Jinagam Vistar Ane Agam Prakashan Ange Vicharo

Author(s): Jinagam Prakashak Sabha
Publisher: Jinagam Prakashak Sabha

Page 9

dhist holy writs. In this Presidency Jain studies have attracted Bhandarkar, Buhler and Peterson. On the Continent Hermann Jacobi and Leumann and Gerni are its well-known exegete 8. Leumann and Hoernle's participation in the interpretation of Jain philosophy and much of Jacobi's work, as well as a systematic research into other aspects of Jain teachings by Weber, are accessible in English. It is not, however, the gle szes fut upon their scriptural tenets by Western scholars which alone satisfy the rising Jain generation. And we note with pleasure the endeavour made in Ahmedabad to found a Jaln Text Society for the publication of original Magadhitexts with Sanskrit commentaries and Gujarati fuper.commentaries. The project comprises the printing of the forty-five canonical books of the Shvetapibara sect and is estimated to cost two lakhs of rupees and cover a period of twenty five years. The first attempt in a similar direction was made in Bengal in 1880 by Rai Dhan pat Singh Bahadur, who consecrated a lakh of rupees to the publication of Jain religious literature. Jainism baving its n ost brilliant followers in Gujarat, the Gujarati language bas acquired a semi-hieratic churacter with the Jaite. Dhan pat Singh's edition was furnished with Gujarati commentary. To Gujarati Jains the editiou fails to supply their want. The Bengali type of Sanskrit characters is fatiguing to the eye, and the scholia represent very old Guj rati which needs elucidation. Hence the enterprise of the Jainagama Publishing Society of Ahmedabad. The First volume
The first volume to be taken in hand for publication is the Bhagavati Sutra which is estimated to cover five thousand pages and will be priced at Rp. 45. Doubtless the editors will take advantage of Weber's translation of some sections of the enormous work, but we would ask the Society to make (viry possible effort to enlist the co-operation of the living representative of the indegenous tradition and to subordinate Western interpretaion to the construction suggested by Jain Munis. We note that the Society expresses its readiness warmly to welcome the preferred assistance of these traditional repositories of Jain learning. It should not, however, be overlooked that the latter will hardly come forward of their own accord at this general invitatiou. The Society would do well to seek out ascetics and laymen of noted erudition. And we would venture to suggest that they should model their procedure in the Pali Texts Society of London and to avoid the pitfall of the latter. Some money and ehthusiasm sustained for near thirty years have conferred enduring obligation on the world interested in Buddhism. The Ahmedabad Society has before it an opportuuity of like magnitude. We should be sorry to see cold water thrown on the scheme judged from its financial policy. Much as the series of works contemplated to be puller hed will be respected, they will, like all publications of its clars, be more admired than read and