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PREFACE
Jainism is one of the three major religions of India. Since 2500 years, it has made manifold contributions to Indian Society through its literature, religion and philosophy. Jaina philosophers' contribution to Indian philosophy after 4th Century A. D. is a landmark in the History of Jainism. Really, the Jaina Philosophy as such started from the works of Acarya Umasvati Vācaka. It is his two main works, written in Sanskrit for the first time in the history of Jainism viz., Tattvarthadhigamasutra and Prasamaratiprakarana that played a major role in placing Jainism on the map of Indian philosophical systems. He holds the same position in the history of Indian philosophy which the great Gautama, Kanāda, Kapila and others hold. The credit of presenting fundamental tenets of Jainism, for the first time, in Sanskrit language goes to Umasvāti. It is no exaggeration to say that the entire Jaina Philosophical palace is built on the solid foundation laid by Umasvati. He is the only revered philosopher-saint who is highly respected by all the sects that developed within the Jaina Community.
Prasamaratiprakarana is a most authentic work on Jaina Philosophy and Religion. It is the first and earliest work written in Sanskrit poetic form to propagate Jainism and to guide laymen, by a first rank philosopher of Jainism. Though this work is undoubtedly from the pen of the same author who has written Tattvarthasutra with Svopajñabhāṣya, the Digambaras do not accept it as a work of Umasvati. I have tried to throw some light on this matter in my Introduction. This work is really a compendious one and covers almost all the important doctrines of Jainism. This work is always held in high esteem by the Jaina community and considered as a source-book of inspiration for thousands of spiritual-minded people for more than fifteen hundred years. In the introduction I have tried to give a complete picture of the importance of it from the Jaina religio-philosophical point of view. Considering its importance in the field of knowledge, an attempt has been made to fulfil a long-felt need of critical edition with English translation.
The Introductory essay is really a study on Prasamaratiprakaraṇa in which I have tried to give a gist and importance of this work. This Introduction is divided into 9 chapters. The Ist chapter deals with Umasvati's life history, viz., family, caste, date, sect and works in brief. In the IInd chapter, an attempt is made to substantiate the view that Praśamarati is a work of Umasvati, on the basis of internal and external evide nces. In the IIIrd chapter Subject-matter of 22 chapters is given in summary form. The IVth chapter deals with different commentaries written on Prasamarati. The Vth and VIth chapters, respectively deal with Ethical and Philosophical aspects of Prasamarati in detail. The VII and VIIIth
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