Muni Jambuvijayji Homage and reminiscences

Author(s): Nalini Balbir
Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan

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मार्च २०१०
२४७
Asiatique 1983, pp. 428-432). Later on, I had the opportunity to meet Muni Jambūvijayaji in Palitana, in Sankheshwar, and, for the last time, in December 2003 on the day he had arrived in Koba. Followed by his retinue, he was welcomed in great pump by all those who were present. This is indeed a cherished memory of a striking moment. With gratitude I then received from him a copy of his edition of Hemacandra's Sabdānuśāsana with Laghuvrtti. This is a book I constantly use, especially for my investigations in Jain praśnottaras. They include the modest contribution I wrote for Jambū-jyoti, the felicitation volume in honour of Muni Jambūvijayaji (2004) and the one published in this commemorative issue of Anusandhān.
Muni Jambūvijayaji's activity is in direct continuation of that of Agamaprabhākara Muni Punyavijaya to whom he paid an appropriate tribute on the occasion of the latter's completion of 60 years as a monk (see Jñānāmjali. Pūjya Muni Sri Punyavijayaji Abhivādana grantha, Mumbai, 1969, khanda bijô, pp. 17-18). Like his illustrious predecessor, Muni Jambūvijayaji devoted a lot of his energy to produce high standard editions of several texts of the Svetāmbara canon and was involved in the continuation of the Jaina Āgama Series. His vast expertise in philosophy, logic (Buddhist logic as well) and grammar resulted, among other things, in the monumental edition of Mallavādin’s Dvādaśāranayacakra. This work of great importance for the history of Indian philosophy has aroused the interest of many western Sanskrit scholars in recent years and has made the name of Muni Jambūvijayaji familiar even to those whose primary concerns do not relate to Jainism. Several of us have benefited from Muni Jambūvijaya's knowledge which he was always ready to impart. His interactions with foreign scholars, who for some of them became his true disciples, also led him to write a few articles in Sanskrit) for books published outside India. His āśirvāda and contribution were requested for more than one scholarly occasion connected with Jain studies in Europe! I remember the Jain Conference organized in Warsaw