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FOREWORD
Narrative Tale in Jain Literature, compiled and edited by Professor Satya Ranjan Banerjee, is valuable for two reasons. Firstly, the Jaina tales have been collected from various sources, and presented in a continuous form, which would surely help the readers understand the Jaina Šramanic view of the problems of life. Secondly, the Jaina tales, collected by Professor Satya Ranjan Banerjee from Jaina folkloristic literature, which is vast, are, in all probability, the first English translation of Jaina folklore, which shows that, despite the practice of asceticism of an exceedingly severe type, the Jainas had considerable knowledge of samsāra, or life of the people, whom they sought to convert into their faith. The Jaina tales, collected in this volume, represent the means which the Jainas adopted for civilizing the masses who were steeped in ignorance and various types of immoralities. The didactic content in Jaina tales, told in popular language, is unmistakable. This work would be of some help to general readers and specialists in understanding the continuance of the Jaina faith during the millenia. It is certainly a valuable compendium which would, I hope, be appreciated by the readers.
28.01.2008
Ramakanta Chakrabarty
General Secretary The Asiatic Society
Jain Education International
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