________________
sources refer to places like Kankhal (near Haridwar), Hastinapur (Meerut), Kurukshetra, Rohtak, Jind, Narnaul, Hansi, Sialkot and Bhera (Sindh Sobir Desh) etc. which Lord Mahavira visited during his preaching odysseys, thus covering almost the entire Punjabi-speaking region. Unfortunately however, there was almost no Jaina literature in Punjabi until the middle of the 20th century.
The very fact that there are quite a sizeable number of people in Punjab belonging to Jaina tradition and the very fact that the region was associated with the life of Lord Mahavira demanded that there should be some literature in Punjabi to make the local populace familiar with the lives of the Jaina Tirthankaras; their contemporary society, their teachings and the masses' response to these teachings; the Jaina Shastras and their place vis-a-vis scriptures of other traditions; and the present state of Jainism and the Jainas. The task fulfil these demands was rather orduous, but the challenge was accepted two young men from the Malwa region-Ravinder Kumar Jain of Malerkotla and Purushottam Jain of Dhuri. These 'brothers-in-faith' have rendered yeomen's service in publishing a lot of Jaina literature in Punjabi. They have been the first to render several of the sutras into Punjabi, besides writing several books on the life of Mahavira, Jaina philosophy and society. Their attempts becomes all the more admirable since neither of them is an academician by profession. There is a selfless job-no personal motives except the desire to serve their mother-tongue and to carry the Jaina literature to each Punjabi-knowing house. They have, in this venture, been encouraged, inspired, helped and guided by Jain Sadhvi Shri Swarn Kanta Ji Maharaj who. is herself deeply interested in literacy activities. It will not be an exaggeration to say that the literacy potential in these two young men was discovered and brought out by her. We give below a gist of their worksó
1. Bhagwan Mahavira, a biography of Lord Mahavira, has been the first such biography in Punjabi language. Based on the information called from about 150 volumes in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Gujrati, Urdu, Upfrance and English, the book gives a scientific and object view of various events from the Lord's life. It includes about 40 pictures relevant to the Lordís life.
2. Jain Dharma: Ik Sankhep Jankari (Jainism: A brief introduction) is the only book in Punjabi dealing with Jaina history, religion, literature, philosophy etc. Comprising about 250 pages, the book has been recommended for under-graduate students.
3. Puratan Punjab Vich Jain Dharma (Jainism in Ancient Punjab) is a very useful book in so far it provides very valuable information on the 'Tirthankaras' visits to Punjab, and makes very interesting comments on the contemporary life. It also gives photographs of some ancient Jaina idols, manuscript specimen, genaeological tables etc. The book was released on 27th February, 1987 by Giani Zail Singh, the then President of India.
4-6. Bhagwan Mahavira de Updesh (Teachings of Lord Mahavira), Jain Sahit te Sanskriti di Ruprekha (An outline of Jaina Literature and Culture) and Jain Agamlik Jankari (Jain Agams : An introduction) are some of the brief pamphlets prepared by them. Such handi literature serves a very useful purpose in cultivating moral and ethical values among especially the youth.
7. Bharati Sahit Vich Bhagwan Mahavira (Lord Mahavira in Indian Literature) is an illustrated catalogue of whatever has been written on Lord Mahavira in Buddhist and other Indian religious literature.
Jain Educationa International
२२
For Personal and Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
