Jaina Granth Bhandars in Rajasthan

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

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Jaina Grantha Bhandars in Rajasthan.
had a great desire in his heart to serve the Indian literature in general and Jaina hterature in particular. There is a good collection of Saṁskrt, Hindi and Prākrit works The earliest manuscript of this Bhandăr is the manuscript of Parmatma Prakāśa written in Saṁwat 1407 (1350 A.D) and the latest manuscript was written in Samwat 1955 which is Namokara Mantra Katha. There is a manuscript of Yasodhar Caritra of Sakal Kirti, which is fully illustrated. The manuscript contains coloured illustrations completely based on the story. Except this, all the manuscripts which have coloured illustrations are related to the Mantra Sastra.
SUBJECTS DEALT WITH
Manuscripts whrch are in the Sāstra Bhandär relate both to religious and secular subjects. But the main subjects on which the manuscripts are available are Jyotisa, Ayurveda and Mantra Šāstra. Manuscripts of Mādhav-Nidhân, Yoga Cintamani, Vaidy-Manotsava, Bhairava Padmavati Kalpa, and Vidyānuvāda are also there
The Bhandār is quite systematic. The Granthas have been placed in serial number They are placed in stone almirahs having glass shutters. The catalogue of this Bhandär has already been published duly edited by the author himseif
(4) ŚĀSTRA BHANDĀR OF BĀBI DOLTCANDA
The Sastra Bhandar of Bāba Dūlicand is situated in Jaina Digambar temple of Terāpanthi which is also called Bada Mandir. Thus Grantha Bhandār was established by Sri Dūlicand in the year 1854 AD, He was a great Hindi lover of his time. He was not a Jaipurian but belonged to Poona District of Mahärästra state. He came to laipui with the manuscripts and established the Šāstra Bhandar which became famous alter his name He died in the year 1871 AD at Agra
There are 850 manuscripts in this Šāstra Bhandār which were collected by him alone by travelling throughout India. Some of the manuscripts were either got wiitten by Dülicand or were presented to him by the Jaina Śrävakas and the rest were collected by him from various places. He led a life of Jaina Sadhu and travelled thrice throughout India. He also wrote a description about his travel in Jaina Yatrā Darpana, a manuscript which is available in the Bhandar. He was a good scholar of Hindi and Samskrit and translated about 15 works in Hindi. All of these works are preserved in the Bhandar.
1. Rajasthän ke Jainā Sastra Bhandaron ki Granih Suci Part II year 1954.