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with a strong desire to accept the challenge of the age and started establishing independent MSS libraries This continued during the first quaiter or 20th century- In such Insuitution, Eelak Pannalal Sarasvati Bhavan at Vyar, Jhalara Patan and Ujjain, and Shri Jaina Siddhanta Bhawan at Arrah stand at the top. More significant part of these collections had been their availability to the scholars all over the world. Almost all the eminent Joinologist of the present century studing the MSS, have utilized the collection of Sri Jaina Siddhanta Bhawan It had been my proud privilege and pleasure that I too have used Bhavan's MSS for almost all my Critical editions of the works I edited
During last few decades catalogues of some of the MSS collections, in Government as well as in private institutions, have been published Through these catalogues the MSS have become known to the world of Scholars who may utilise them for their study.
In the series of the publications of catalogues relating to Jainalogy, Jinarainakośa by Velankar deserves special mention It is quite a different type of reference work relating to MSS Bharatiya Janapitha, Kashi published in Hindi in Devanagari script the Kanniaprāntiya Tädapatriya Grantha Süchi in 1948 recording descriptions of 3538 Palm leaf MSS The catalogues of the MSS of Rajasthan prepared by Dr Kastoor Chand Kasliwal and published in five volumes by Shri Digambar Jaina Atisaya Ksetra Shri Mahavirajı, Jaipnr also deserve mention L. D. Institute of Indology, Abmedabad have published catalogue in several volumes. Among the publication of new catalogues mention may be made of Dilh Jina-Grantha-Ralnāvālı published by Bharatiya Jnanpith, New Delhi and the catalogue of Nāgaura Jaina Sastra-Bhandara published by Rajasthan University.
In the above range of catalogues, the present volume of Śrí Jaina Siddhanta Bhavanı Granthävali is a valuable addition As alieady started this is the beginning of the publication of catalogues of the MSS preserved in Sri Jain Siddhant Bhavan now Shri Deva Kumar Jain Oriental Library, Arrah It is likely to cover eight volumes cach covering about 1000 MSS I am well aware that preparation and publication of such works require high industrious zeal, gieat
