________________
BOOK REVIEW
1. CATALOGUE OF MANUSCRIPTS IN SRI HEMACANDRACARYA JAIN JNAN MANDIR, Vol 1-Paper Manuscripts compiled by Muni Sri Punyavijayji : Sri Hemachandracarya Jain Jnan Mandir, Patan, 1972 : Pages 11 +631 : Price Rs. 50.00.
2. NEW CATALOGUE OF SANSKRIT AND PRAKRIT MANUSCRIPTS-JESALMER COLLECTION, compiled by Muni Sri Punyavijayji : L. D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad, 1972 : Pages 35+471 : Price Rs. 40.00.
3. PRAKRIT PROPER NAMES-Part II, compiled by Mohanlal Mehta and K. Rishabha Chandra : L.D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad, 1972 : Pages 491-1014 : Price Rs. 35.00.
Manuscripts, written on papers, palm-leaves or parchments have been considered by scholars as one of the source-materials for the construction of traditional history and philosophy. This is more true in the case of Jainism. Luckily for us, passing through the ravages of time, a large number of such mss written by Jaina savants at different periods of time are still extant in what are called the Jaina bhandaras which are usually attached to some Jaina temple or Upāšraya or Yati's abode. Thus preserved these stores have come down to us as a standing evidence of a rich heritage. While some such stores may be found in any part of the country, the more important of them exist in Western India which in the medieval period became powerful centres of Jaina scholarship. Over centuries, these mss have been preserved as sacred trust. It is due to the persistent tenacity of the western Orientalists in the 19th century that the more important of such mss were brought to light. In the present century, some Indian Indologists like Muni Punyavijayji have been attracted to this venture. Thanks to their effort that during the past half a century, more and more mss have been listed and held up before public gaze.
The first Catalogue under review which lists paper mss only provides separately the list of mss acquired by Sri Hemachandracarya Jain Jnan
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
