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Appendix IV
Extant manuscripts of the Nira yā valiyā suy a k khandha
and its exegesis
Ultimately our sources for Jain scriptural works are the manuscripts (MSS) prepared and passed down by Jain tradition. This Appendix presents a provisional census of the manuscript sources for the two texts presented in this edition, ie. the Nirayā valiyāsuyakkhandha and its commentary. Also marked are those manuscripts used to establish the text here.
There are two starting points to locate manuscripts of Jain works—both modelled on Aufrecht's great work (Catalogus catalogorum 1891-1903, (see Janert 1965, 21-22))—the first is Velankar's Jinaratnakośa : an alphabetical register of Jain works and authors (= JRK) (1944), and the second the New catalogus catalogorum (v. 1 <12> 1966<1988>). These listings need to be supplemented by consulting themore recently published manuscript catalogues. Janert (1965) is the definitive listing of Indian manuscript catalogues. Biswas (1998) can be seen as an update to Janert, although it does not keep to the same rigorously accurate and detailed standards of description.
Velankar (1893-1963) planned the JRK in two volumes, a title listing and a separate author listing, but only the first volume ever appeared. He listed 121 sources for his information; some of them were standard published reports and catalogues but many of the sources were handlists, some prepared solely for his use. The whereabouts of many manuscripts he listed is no longer traceable. As he states (Preface [il-ii), he was not able to visit all the collections personally, and so a considerable number of his entries are based on unverified second-hand information. Nevertheless, no investigation of Jain literature in Sanskrit and the Prakrits is possible without consulting Velankar's JRK. I have been able to locate and obtain copies of 22 manuscripts having entries in the JRK, and about 35 of those having entries in NCC (there is some overlap of course). The New catalogus catalogorum is too well-known to need any introduction here. For Jain manuscripts the most important supplementary sources are the catalogues of the Pāțan, Jaisalmer and Khambhāt collections detailed below.
The material present here has the following sub-divisions:
Manuscripts of the mūla listed in the JRK (p. 213). Manuscripts of Sricandra's commentary listed in the JRK (p. 213). Manuscripts of the mūla listed in the NCC (v. 8 p. 136-37) Manuscripts of the commentaries listed in the NCC ( v. 8 p. 136-37) Manuscripts in Pāțan (North Gujarāt) 5.1 Catalogues of the manuscripts held in Pāțan 5.2 Palm leaf and paper manuscripts of the mūla and commentary from Patan Manuscripts in Jaisalmer (Rājasthān) 5.1 Catalogues of the manuscripts held in Jaisalmer 5.2 Palm leaf and paper manuscripts of the mūla and commentary from Jaisalmer Manuscripts in Khambhāta (=Cambay) (Gujarat) 7.1 Catalogues of the manuscripts held in Khambhāta 7.2 Palm leaf manuscripts of the mūla and commentary from Khambhāta
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