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FOREWORD
The story is a kind of 'Saying". It is, however, a kind of literary form but it does spring from deep human impulse and does fulfill human needs. Stories of witchcraft and enchantment, wandering loose in men's mind, attached themselves in the early sixtecoth century to a real life.
Jain stories particularly have made a potable contribution to the development of literature in the form of stories. Every aspect of life has been depicted in Jain stories. They are influenced with subtle sagacious discourses on religion and philosophy Light has also been thrown on the practical aspects of life The sigoificance of Jain stories lies in the fact that each incident has been narrated metaphysically Each incident envelopes valour, intelligence, understanding, tolerance and other essential attributes. Spirituality is, of course, the main theme of Jain literature but that spirituality is not barren in the Jain stories While takiog stock of the ups and downs of life, a man ordinarily loses sight of the future and hence he commits a mistake which makes even the present fatiguing and oppressive, Jain stories live in the present and picture the future
If we want to see ourselves in perspective to understand our predicaments and possibilities, we must be able to make comparisons with some other societies of a quite different time and place. Only then we shall be armed with sufficient detachment to grapple with our own problems In this respect, Adhyatmayogi Munishri Mahendrakumarji 'Pratham' has done a splendid and memorable work by reproducing old Jain stories in Hindi which represents a quite different period from our own
Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi, 12. 8 76
Raja Ram Shastri M P. Lok Sabba Vice-Chancellor
