Jain Shwetambar Conference Herald 1915 Book 11 Jain Itihas Sahitya Ank

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Conference

Page 15

Narrative Literature of the Jainas.
221
I hope to show how important Jaina influence was in the history of this famous book, which has become one of the glories of India.
The reason why so little is known in Europe of the Jaina communities, which in earlier times were one of the mot effective factors in Indian art, and literature, and ci. vilisation in general has been given by Mr. U. D. Barodia on p. 108 of his small, but useful book: History and Literature of Jainism. Bombay 1909. There the author says.' The Jains of the old, apprehensive of Mahommedan sacrilege, kept these books in underground cellars. But it is to be regretted that some Jains of the presant time continue the same practice in these times of peaceful research.' With these words the learned author hits the nail on the right head. If the short-sighted fanatics, who are keeping the literary treasures of their forefathers for themselves instead of publishing them, should continue to prevail amongst the jainas, the community would be open to three equally grave reproaches, viz. (1) to the reproach of the worst ingratitude towards their
benefactors, nainely the great scholars and poets, who
consumed their lives in the service of their communities; (2) to the reproach of neglecting its own interest as, of
course, a community is little valued by the wolrd, if it can not show that it did, and continues to do, valuable
services to human civilisation; (3! to the reproach that it prevents others from knowing
the principles of Jaina religion and the teachings of the Tirthankaras and of the later acharyas whereas the genius of Jainism demands that its doctrines should be spread as far as possible, and that all the fine works of art and learning produced by the great Jaina poets and sch. olars should be published ini cara,' for the welfare of the world. '
Fortunately, there are far sighted men amongst the modern Jainas, who are well aware of the fact that the best service they can do to their community is, to show to the world,