Jaina Granth Bhandars in Rajasthan

Author(s): Kasturchand Kasliwal
Publisher: Digambar Jain Atishay Kshetra Mandir

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Jaina Grantha Bhandars in Rajasthan.
Thakkar Pheru was the royal treasurer of Allauddin Khilji. He was an expert in the test of jewellery and coins. He composed Yugapradhana Caupai in samwat 1347 (1290 A.D.) and Ratna Parikšā, Dravya Dhätütpatti, Vástusär Prakaraņa and Joitasår in Sarhwat 1372 (1315 A.D.). In Sarwat 1500 (1443 A.D.) Yasah Kirti completed his Harivnía Purāna in Delhi, On the request of Sahu Divara is the time of Jalal Khăn. In this way there were several authors who wrote and copied works in Delhi The illustrated manuscript of Adipuran which is at present in the Sastra Bhandar of Jaina Teräpanthi Temple, Jaipur was copied in Delhi. In the 17th Century Bhagwati Dass was a great Hindi scholar who wrote more than 50 Hindi works in Delhi which have been recently discovered in Bhattarkiya Grantha Bhandar, Ajmer.
At present there are 8 manuscript libraries in the City. But out of these, the collection in the New Mandir Dharampurā is very large. The total number of the manuscripts collected in the temple is about two thousand. Most of the manuscripts are of the 16th to 19th century. The other manuscript libraries are in the Jain temple of Setha Kucā and in Jain Pancayati Mandır. In these Bhandārs the rare manus cripts of Samskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramśā and Hindi are in quite a good number A very old work of Hindi i.e. Pradyumna Canta% of V.S. 1411 (1354 A.D.) composed by the Sadharu Kavi is in collection of the Naya Mandir Bhandār. The fully illustrated copy of the Adepurana composed by Puspadanta Kavi in Apabhramsa is a very fine manuscript from the point of Indian art. These Bhandārs are also very old. Delhi remained the seat of the scholars and learned Bhattārakās, so there are several manuscripts written by them also.
The Sastra Bhandar of Naya Mandir contains a good collection of the manuscripts. The total number of which is 1995. The collection was made between 15th to 19th century. Manuscripts of Dhavalā, Māhādhavata and Jaidhavală copied recenly are also in the collection. The manuscript copy of Hindi translation of Rajvārtika written by Pannālál of Saharanpur is also in this Šāstra Bhandar. Just like Samiskrit, manuscripts written in the Apabhrama and Hindt are also in large mumber.
There are two manuscripts of Tattvårtha Sūtra and Daslaxana Jaymäla which are wiitten in golden ink and look very heautiful. The Sastra Bhandar is well arranged and preserved.
1. Manuscript Catalngues Obtained through Lala Panna La Jain Delhi,
2. Published by Säbitya Sodha Vibhag of Digamber Jain Atishaya Kelta Sri Mahavinji
Jarpur