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Jaina Paribhāṣika Sabdakosa/Preface Several Kosas, based on the Agama (canonical works). have been published so far. before preparation of our present dictionary.
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The lexicons, based on the Agamas, are:
Ekārthaka Kosa24
Nirukta Kosa25
Desisabdakosa
Jain Agama Vanaspati Kosa27
Jain Agama Prani Kosa
Jain Agama Vadya Kosa Agama Sabdakosa
Sri Bhiksu Agama Visaya Kosa" (two volumes)
The Jainism is essentially the philosophy of Atmavadi (propounder of the doctrine of soul), Lokavadi (propounder of the doctrine of cosmos), Karmavīdi (propounder of the doctrine of Karma) and Kriyavadi (propounder of the doctrine of action). The philosophical exposition in Jainism is replete with metaphysical description and metaphysical inquiry. The terminology used in metaphysics has a different connotation from the words used in common parlance and it is often quite mystical. A definition/exposition is needed to comprehend its exact connotation. To fulfil this rieed, this "Bilingual Dictionary of Technical Terms of Jainism" has been prepared.
We had started the work of editing the canonical works of Jainism at Ujjain in 1955. under the Synod-chief, Acharya Tulsi. At that time, together with the editing work, we had also conceived of preparing the indexes of subjects. Shri Mohanlalji Banthia took the responsibility of fulfilling this work which is now being carried on by Shrichandji Choradia at Kolkata.
As the field of studies in Jain canonical literature got expanded, the need of its translation into English also was felt. Prof. Nathmal Tatia and Muni Mahendrakumarji started the work of translating the canonical works into English. There arose the problem of translation of the technical terms. Nevertheless, as both the translators were scholars of Jain philosophy, the problem got resolved. However, when other scholars who were less acquainted with the Jain metaphysics and Jain philosophy were given the work of translation of the Jain canonical works and other works of Jain literature into English, the problem of translation of the technical terms cropped up.
Meanwhile, in 1996, Ganadhipati Gurudeva Shri Tulsi was passing his caturmāsa (four month's sojourn during rainy season) at Jain Vishva Bharati, Ladnun. A meeting, in which myself. Prof. Nathmal Tatia, Muni Mahendrakumarji and Sadhvi Vishrutavibha were present, was held in the benign presence of Gurudeva. After the due deliberations, a decision was taken to perpare a dictionary of the technical terms of Jainism in English.
Gurudeva had coined a sūtra (motto) viz.. "first deliberation, then decision, and then implementation" for fulfilment of any task. Accordingly, the decision taken in the meeting got translated into implementation and the work (of translation) started taking shape. Both Dr. Tatia and Sadhvi Vishrutavibha concentrated themselves on the work. I used to dictate the definition of the terminology (in Hindi) to Sadhvi Vishrutavibha and Dr. Tatia translated it into English then and there. After a few days, when Gurudeva perused the work of the duo, he expressed immense pleasure as if a long cherished dream had got realised.
