Jain Journal 2006 04

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

Page 20

A Report of a Seminar on Pañcagranthi Vyakaraṇa of Buddhisagara Sūri
The Pañcagranthi Vyakaraṇa of Buddhisagara Sūri was released by the noted scholar Dr. (Mrs.) Kapila Vatsyayan, Member, Rajya Sabha, in a function held at India International Centre, New Delhi, on March 4, 2006. The author of this work, which is the only available work of Sanskrit grammar written in metrical verses, was a Svetambar Jain Acarya who flourished during 981-1025 A.D. It has been published by Bhogilal Leherchand Institute of Indology (BLII), Delhi. A special feature of the event was the felicitation of Shri Pratap Bhogilal, the founder Chairman of BLII.
Speaking as the Chief Guest of the function, Dr. (Mrs.) Kapila Vatsyayan discussed how the vast commentarial literature of India has an originality of its own in interpreting and reinterpreting the text. She stressed upon the need of providing a bridge between the ancient and the modern. Kapilaji whished to Shri Pratap Bhogilal a long, healthy and active life. Dr. J.B. Shah, Director, L.D. Institute of Indology, Ahemdabad, praised the effort and zeal of Pratapbhai in furthering the cause of Indological studies, especially Jain studies. He remembered how Pratapbhai was instrumental in renaming of North Gujrat University of Patan as Hemachandracharya University.
In the second session, a seminar was held on the Pañcagranthi Vyakarana. Dr. J.B. Shah talked in detail about the Jain tradition of Vyakaraṇa. He expressed the view that the work of Buddhisagara was the basis for the composition of Siddha-Haima-Śabdānuśāsana which is still being taught at many areas in Gujrat and Rajasthan. He also spoke about the grammars of Arabic and Persian written in Sanskrit. The editor of the Pañcagranthi, Prof. N.M. Kansara presented a summary of the work. He also pointed out the difficultis that he