Book Title: Jain Spirit 2003 02 No 13
Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

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Page 26
________________ FEATURES TOP TEN BOOKS Christopher K. Chapple recommends the top ten scholarly books on Jainism ever written in English T OF TE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TODAY TO HAVE A Jainism. Babb, an anthropologist by training, developed large number of excellent books in English on this study while engaged in field research in Rajasthan. He Jainism. In this article I selected ten of my personal gives a wonderfully complete account of the relationship favourites, without giving a particular order. between Shvetambaras and Digambaras in northern India The Jaina Path of Purification, by P.S. Jaini, conveys a and provides a detailed account of the Dada Gurus, the picture of the tradition that is rigorous prominent leaders of the Tapa yet fun to read. It begins with a Gacch, who wielded considerable dramatic description of sallekhana, then THE influence in the court of some outlines the basic Jain teachings and Jaina Path Mughal emperors. He combines describes with flair the process of this historical perspective with close spiritual ascent through the fourteen observance of contemporary ritual gunasthanas. Though I had been Purification practices. familiar with some earlier studies on The Outlines of Jainism, by Jainism, this book brought the tradition Jagmanderlal Jaini, published in alive for me when it was published in 1916, provides an excellent brief 1979. It helped inspire further studies of overview of Jain thought. Written this important religion by a whole new with great elegance and concision, generation of scholars. this book needs to be republished. It The Jains, by Paul Dundas, includes helpful charts and provides a comprehensive historical summaries of key Jain stories and survey. When I first met Paul at a Jain parables that add texture to one's conference in Amherst, Massachusetts, study of the faith. shortly before the release of the book, I That Which Is is a translation by was quite dazzled with the depth of his Nathmal Tatia of Umasvati's historical knowledge and his familiarity Tattvarthasutra. It summarises the with the primary figures of the extensive Jain worldview in a manner Jain literary tradition. The book brought accepted by both Shvetambaras and to me new understanding particularly of the medieval and early | Digambaras. I used it with an undergraduate class on Hindu modern periods. Gladly, a new edition of the book has just and Jain theology and the students loved it. It includes the been published by Routledge 2002 with diacritical marks, a root text with the original Sanskrit and summaries of the necessity woefully absent from the first edition. major commentarial traditions. The book is beautifully Absent Lord: Ascetics and Kings in a Jain Ritual Culture, produced and well indexed. by Lawrence Alan Babb. The book combines fieldwork with The Acharangasutra was translated by Herman Jacobi historical research to produce an award winning account of over one hundred years ago. Even in its somewhat antique Jana Pachar Puntiende Padmanabh S. Jaini 24 Jain Spirit . December 2002 - February 2003 Education International 2010_03 For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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