Rishibhashit A Study

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Rishibhashit Sutra has been published as the 46th Book of Prakrit Bharti. It is worth mentioning that this ancient work provides a unique example of assimilation and goodwill within its contents. According to scholars, Rishibhashit was written about 2400 years ago when the first Shrut-skandha of Acharanga was also written. This is probably the first work, not only in Jain but Indian literature, where Rishis and Shramans of all the three traditions, Vedic, Buddhist, and Jain, have been revered without any discrimination. Generally, in every tradition such works are full of critical and drerogatory references. But this unique work is an unprecedented amalgam of the principles of the promoter Acharyas of various schools of philosophical thought. In the prevailing chaotic disintegration all around, where absolutism (intolerance) is getting prominence over nonabsolutism (tolerence), such assimilation is worth emulating.
Publisher's Note
Dr. Sagarmal Jain had accepted our request to write the preface to this book. During the writing, he felt it necessary that the preface to such work should be more elaborate and should include a comparative study of the Rishis detailed therein. And so he completed this assignment in a scholarly explorative style.
This book, written as preface to Rishibhashit Sutra, is of immense value for researchers/readers and as such we are pleased to present two independent editions of this book; one in Hindi and the other in English.
We are thankful to Shri Surendra Bothara for the English translation which is as close to the original as possible in a language in which many of the concepts and terms are almost alien. Thanks are also due to Popular Printers for the printing.
Bhupendra Nath Jain
Secretary
Parshwanath Vidyashram Shodh Sansthan, Varanasi
D. R. Mehta
President
Secretary
S.J.S. Nakoda Parshwanath Teerth Prakrit Bharti Academy
Mewanagar
Jaipur
Parasmal Bhansali