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लेश्या-कोश
satisfied with a single source or version handed down to him by traditions, literary, epigraphical or oral. Whereas a simple believer would not question the authority of the scriptures or traditions he puts his faith in, the modern investigator would try to explore all the sources relating to the subject under study, and examine thoroughly all the aspects and relevant details connected with it. This unbounded spirit of enquiry and tendeney to a comprehensive methodical approach have been greatly facilitated by the discovery, publication or availability and specialised studies of the diverse source material related to almot every subject or branch of learning which may arouse the interest of a scholar. There is thus now no dearth of source material of various kinds and categories on almost any topic which is sought to be investigated. This is itself, however, makes the task of the researcher much more arduous and time-consuming. And, herein lies the importance of different kinds of refrence books which render his task comparatively easy and smooth. Topical dictionaries constitute a very valuable class of such reference books.
So far, as Jainological studies are concerned, encyclopaedias like the Abhidhana Rajendra Kosa and the Jainendra Siddhanta Kosa, several bibliographies, collections of colophons, catalogues of manuscripts, glossaries of technical terms, dictionaries of historical persons and places, and collections of inscriptions and of other historical records like pontifical gencalogies and Vijnapati-patras, etc. have already been published. These reference books are undoubtedly of immence help to the research scholar of Jainological studies. The conception of topical dictionaries like the present one is, however, a bit different from that of the works mentioned above.
The late Sri Mohanlal Banthia was, perhaps the first to initiate, develop and launch upon a scheme of compiling topical dictionaries of Jaina religion, philosophy and traditions. He was lucky in having a hardworking, dedicated and competent assistant in Pt. Srichand Choraria. The scheme covered about a thousand topics, but to begin with they compiled and published in 1966 the Lesya-Kos, in 1969 the Kriya-Kos, in 1980 the Vardhaman Jivan-Kos Part I, and its Part II in 1984 in the form of the present publication.
The object in compiling and publishing this "Cyclopaedia of Vardhaman', as they have called it, is to indicate with references the
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