Jain Journal 2004 01

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

Page 55

180
JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XXXVIII, NO. 3 JAN. 2004
BOOK REVIEW
Abhidhāna-cintāmani-nāma-ināla of Hemacandrācārya edited by Gani Sricandravijaya and published by Sri Rander Road Jain Sangh, Adajan Patiya, Rander Road, Surat, Gujarat, Vikrama Samvat 2059 (=A.D. 2003), pp. xxxii+1050+vi, price Rs 600.00 only.
One of the greatest contributions in the beginning of the twentyfirst century is the edition of Abhidhāna-cintāmaņi-nāma-mālā of Hemacandrācārya edited by Gaņi Śricandravijaya with the commentary of Vyutpatti-ratnākara (composed in samvat 1686) by Sri Devasāgara Gani, pupil of Ravicandra of the Ancalagaccha, during the Spiritual reign of Kalyāṇasāgarasūri. The book has six chapters (known as kandas) of which the fourth has several sub-sections. It has a section on indeclinables. Apart from these, the book contains an elaborate introduction and several appendices of words, ślokas and many other things. In the introduction the editor has discussed lots of problems on the significance of words and their meanings. The editor has also incidentally mentioned the existence of many other lexicographies which have enhanced the quality of the introduction. The introduction written in Sanskrit is very valuable.
The text, Abhidhäna-cintānani-nama-mālā, deals with synonyms in six kāņdas. It begins with Jaina gods and ends with abstracts, adjectives, and particles. The abhidhāna-cintāmaņi is supplemented by Nighaņțu-seșa, a botanical dictionary, and by Anekārtha-sangraha.
In the appendices, the word-index with their Gujarati meanings is given, and the sloka-index of the verses is also furnished. There is an index of books and authors quoted in the Vyutpatti-ratnākara.
Though Abhidhāna-cintamani was edited earlier by St. Petersburg (1847), by Vijayadharmasūri, Bhavnagar, (Vir Samv. 2446), by Mahāvīra Jain Sabhā Cambay, from Nirnaya Sāgara Press, Bombay, Saka 1818, on the whole, this Surat edition is a nice one, and I believe that all the previous editions will be eclipsed by the present one.
Satya Ranjan Banerjee