________________
Introduction
undertaken.
To the best of our knowledge, so far there have been three major researches on Śrímad. Dr. Sarayuben Mehta's 'Srimadní Jivanasiddhi’was approved by the Bombay University in 1965 A. D. for the award of Ph.D. degree to the author. It deals with śrīmad's life and works. It is in Gujarati. Secondly, Dr. S. M. Patel obtained Ph.D. from M. S. University of Baroda on ‘Philosophy of Śrīmad Rājacandra ’. The third is ‘A Comparative Study : Banārasīdāsa, Ānandaghana, Srimad Rājacandra and Kabira” in Hindi by a Jaina Sadhvi Dr. Tarulata who was awarded Ph.D. in 1976. It is worthwhile to present here a brief critical survey of these works :
(i) Śrímadnî Jivanasiddhi :
This was first published in 1970 A. D. and subsequently three editions have been brought out in 1983, 1987 and 1994 A. D. The book is quite bulky containing 684 pages in all. It is very deep, stupendous, scholarly and comprehensive. The authoress combines excellent analytical ability with powerful insight. So the book stands as a landmark in critical studies of Srīmad. Its style is lucid, pleasant and catching. Her
17