Book Title: Jainism The Cosmic Vision
Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: UK Mahavir Foundation London

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Page 231
________________ Jainism : The Cosmic Vision independent of other religions, especially Buddhism. (Indische Alterthun Skunde by Lassen IV, p. 763 seq.) He also proved that Mahavira and Gautama Buddha were two contemporary and different great men. ('The sacred books of the East Series ed. F. Max Muller : Jain Sutras by Hermann Jacobi, Pub. Oxford University Press, 1884) This historical statement made by Hermann Jacobi became very important in subsequent times. A number of western scholars made their own contributions to Jain Studies. In his original book Colebrooke (1765-1837) presented some facts about Jainism. Dr. H. H. Wilson (1784-1860) made a special contribution in this field. Otto Bothlingk began the rich tradition of translation of Jain scriptures. In collaboration with Rieu he translated Hemchandrachary's Abhidhan Chintamani into German in 1847. In 1848 Rev. Stevenson translated Kalpa Sutra and Nava Tatva and made an important contribution to the translation of Jain canonical (Agam) sutras. (Kalpa Sutra and Nava Tatva translated from the Magadhi by Rev. J. Stevenson Pub. : Bharat-Bharati, Oriental Publishers and Booksellers, Varanasi - 5) In this book, a translation of Kalpa Sutra and Nava Tatvas from Ardhamagadhi into English was published. In the preface to this book he has introduced the Jain religion, Paryushana Parva, Tirthankaras and Jain Geography and in the appendix at the end of the book he has written a note on the Ardhamagadhi language. Vebar, the Sanskrit scholar, translated some selected portions from Shatrunjaya Mahatmya in 1858 and from Bhagawati Sutra in 1866. Besides, he did some important work in the field of Jain canonical literature and research in Jain philosophy. Stevenson's translation of Kalpasutra from Magadhi was 214 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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