Jain Journal 1988 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 45

JAIN JOURNAL
The scheme covered about a thousand topics, but to begin with they compiled and published in 1966 the Leśyā-Kos, in 1969 the Kriya-Kos, in 1980 the Vardhaman Jivan-Koś Part I, and its Part II in 1984 in the form of the present publication.
The object in compiling and publishing this 'Cyclopaedia of Vardhanan', as they have called it, is to indicate with references the known sources, quoting the different texts with their Hindi translations, on almost all the details or data relating to Bhagavan Vardhamana Mahavira (599-527 B.C.), the 24th and last Thirthankara of the Jaina tradition. The sources utilised include the canonical texts, their commentaries and the non-canonical literature of the Svetambara tradition, alongwith the more important works of the Digambara tradition, a few of Buddhist and Brahamanical works relevant to the purpose, and some later encyclopaedias, dictionaries and reference volumes.
is, besides, th his eulogies: fourfold of
Part I of the Kos contained details of the life of the great Hero from his conception to nirvāna, whereas Part II, the present volume, deals with the 33 or so previous births of him as gleaned from the Svetambara and Digambara sources, incidentally facilitating a comparative study of the two traditional accounts, besides, the five kalyānakas or auspicious events of his life, his aliases or epithets, his eulogies, his samavasarana, divya-dhvani or Discourse Divine, his Sangha or the fourfold order, his disciples including the eleven Ganadharas headed by Indrabhuti Gautama with particulars about each, and many other minor or miscellaneous details.
On many points, the information collected in this part supplements that contained in the first part. The topics have been classified and arranged in the international decimal system as adapted by the editors of this Koś and used in their earlier topical dictionaries, mentioned above.
There is no doubt as to the value and usefulness of this unique topical dictionary of the Tirthankara Mahavira for scholars and research workers. We heartily congratulate the learned Pt Srichand Choraria for accomplishing this very painstaking and time-consuming task so satisfactorily. The Jain Darsan Samiti and its Office-bearers deserve thanks for publishing the Volume.
-Jyoti Prasad Jain