Jaina Granth Bhandars in Rajasthan

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

Page 69

Grantha Bhandars of Ajmer Division.
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The manuscripts in the Sastra Bhandar are mainly in two languages 1.e. Samskrit and Hindi. Hindi manuscripts are the translations of Samskrit texts. The subjects dealtwith in the manuscripts are mainly religious, Purana, Katha and Caritra etc.
(5) SASTRA BHANDAR OF JAINA TEMPLE BADHICAND
This Sastra Bhandar is situated in the Jaina temple Badhi Canda which is a famous Jaina temple of the city. It is situated at Gheewalon kā Rāstā, Johari Bāzār. The temple was constructed by Sri Badhi Canda who was Dewan of Jaipur state for some time. The Sastra Bhandar was established in Samwat 1795 (1738 A.D.) on the completion of the temple.
PATRONS OF THE SASTRA BHANDAR
The Sastra Bhandar of this temple was greatly patronized by Pandit Todaramal and his son Gumāni Rām (18th Century), It remained the main centre of their literary activities. Pandit Toḍarmal and Gumāni Rāma used to write new works in this temple. Original manuscripts of Mokšamārga prakāśa, Ātmānuśāsan, and Puruşartha Sidhyupaya written by Pandit Todar Mal are in the collection of the Bhandar. Gumāni Rama also worked for the growth of the Sastra Bhandar and for some time it was called after his name.
There are 1278 manuscripts in it. This number includes the Gutakās also which are 162. Manuscripts are mainly in four languages 1.e Prakrit, Samskrit, Apabhramsa, and Hindi. All the manuscripts are written on paper and there is no palmleaf manuscript in the collection.
The main subjects on which the manuscripts are available are Jaina religion, Adhyatma, Purāna, Kavya, short stories and miscellaneous works. The works written by non-Jaina authors are not in good number but some famous works of Kalidasa, Anubhūti Swarupācārya, Kabīrdāsa, Kesavadāsa are in the collection,
The earliest manuscript available in the Grantha Bhandar is a commentary on Vaḍḍhmāņa Kāvya written in Samwat 1481 (1424 A.D.) on the 10th bright day of Asoja month. This is a Samskrit commentary on the Apabhramsa work. Vāḍḍhman Kavya was written by Jayamitra Hala in 13th Century. The latest manuscript was written in Samwat 1987 (1930 A.D.) which is called Adhardwīpa Pūjā. Thus there are manuscripts written during the last 500 years.
Some
The collection of Hindi and Apabhramśa works is in good number of them are still unpublished and others are rare one. The manuscript of Harivansa.