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Nalata, Dr. KASHALIWAL and others have brought to light the wealth of valuablc Mss. in Jaina Bhandāras of Rājasthān. Dr. KAILASH CHAND has fricd here to present a systematic and authentic account of Jainism in Rājasthān. After menuoning his sources, he recounts the historical role of Jainism under different dynastics of Rājasthān. The Jaina monastic and social organisations werc subjected to various dividing tendencies which are duly dealt with. He presents a detailed survey of Jain Art, Architecture and Sāstra-Bhaņdāras. He also gives an account of Jaina monks and statesmen who were a pride of the socicty.
Such attempts of regional survey of Jainism are quite necessary to assess the value of Jainisin as a religious force in the cultural history of our land. The J. S. S. Sangha had already published Jainism 111 South India by Shri P. B. DESAI; and it was at the suggestion of the late lamented Dr. A. S. ALTEKAR that the present work was undertaken for publication in the Jīvarāja Jaina Granthamālā. It was very kind of Dr. KAILASH CHAND that he placed this thesis in its reviscd form (originally approved for the Ph. D. degree of thc Rajasthan University in 1956) at our disposal to include it in the present Scrics; and for this, the authorities of the Granthamālā offer their sincere thanks to him.
The General Editors record their thanks to the Members of the Trust Committce and Prabandhasamiti for their zeal for Jainological research and thcir gcncrosity in undertaking such publications which have limited sale. It is hoped that works of this type will induce other scholars to undertake the study of Jaina history, culture and literature.
Sholpur 22-0-1903
A. N. UPADHYE & H. L. JAIN.
