Prolegomena to Prakritica et Jainica

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Asiatic Society

Page 58

SCHUBRING : A BRIEF HISTORY OF JAIN RESEARCH
Gr.-M. (Banaras 1948ff.), a younger counterpart to the Singhī-J.-Gr.-M. (Bo. 1933ff.) of the Svetāmbaras, edited by Muni Jinavijaya.
$9. These intimations are merely meant to demonstrate the respectable activity within the Jain communities as to their almost inexhaustible stock of literature, an activity radiating as far as to the field of Western research. This state of affairs can be dated from the first two decades of this century. It is true that it was Hoernle who, as early as in 1890, could dedicate the first volume of his Uvāsagadasão to Vijayānanda Sūri (Ānandavijaya=ātmārāma, 1837-97) in grateful acknowledgment of various suggestions and corrections, though it is equally true that it was Vijayadharma Suri (1868-1922), never failing to help when being consulted by European scholars, who proved by far more effective. The renaissance just mentioned with the Svetāmbaras at least is due to his lasting impulse.
For a long time research in Europe and America was known to the Jains but to a certain degree, that is to say, as far as their knowledge of English allowed. Books and articles in German and other Western languages frequently remained beyond their reach. Hence it follows that quite a number of data produced by them are wellknown in Western literature. It is evident, therefore, that of all works of Jacobi's (1850-1937)36 none have come to their knowledge than those written in English. But even this crop harvested on the Jain field by an allround genial indologist was abundant enough for a Jain Conference in 34. Western acknowledgments and recollections by Winternitz,
Guérinot, Belloni-Filippi and others; A.J. Sunawala, V. Dh. S., His Life and Work. With a prefatory note by F.W. Thomas, Cambridge 1922, the Same, Adarsha Sadhu, an ideal monk, 2nd ed. Cambridge 1934; Vijaya Indra Sari,
Reminiscences of V. Dh. S., Shivpuri 1924. 35. Obituary by H.V. Glasenapp ZDMG 92, pp. 1-14; the
Author, Jain Gazette 1937.