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PREFACE
The world today is inflamed by violence, conflicts and disharmony. Inspite of the scientific and technological advancement in the material realm, true happiness eludes man due to the degradation of human values. Under these circumstances, there is urgent need to understand the value-based message of Tīrtharkara Mahāvīra – which opens the dimensions of non-violence, equality, universal brotherhood and compassion. It is our bounden duty to spread it in its original form and explain its importance in a simple and appealing language. With this objective I published my Hindi book "Jinavāņi Ke Moti" in 1993 and inspired by the response to the book from a large number of scholars, saints and laities, I am glad to bring out an English edition now.
I deem it my duty to express my gratitude to all those who enabled me to fulfill the above task. I am obliged to Smt. Priya Jain, Research Scholar, Department of Jainology, University of Madras for the translation based on my Hindi book "Jinavāni Ke Moti”. She put in months of hard work with great zeal and enthusiasm and I thank her for the excellent help rendered in this work.
I am deeply obliged to Dr. Satyaranjan Banerjee, Professor, Department of Linguistics, Calcutta University, for writing a 'Foreword' to this book and for his valuable suggestions. His ‘Foreword' on the subject "Jaina Thoughts Through the Ages” is specially written in accordance with the theme of this book. I am also greatly obliged to Dr. M. Narasimhachary, Head of the Department of Vaishnavism, University of Madras, for transliteration of the Aphorisms in Roman Script.
My special thanks are to Shri R. Srinivasan, an eminent journalist for checking the entire work and for his critical evaluation of the translation. I also thank Dr. Jayanti Lal Jain, eminent
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