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A RECENT STUDY OF BHAGAVATTSUTRA
REVIEWED
KK Dixt
the author enoueheling what they aply Bhagavaro
Prof Jozef Deleu, the Belgian scholar specialising in Jaina studies, bts recently brought out a full-fledged study of the Janda canonical text Iiyakapannattı (better known as Bhagaalsutra or simply Bhagawari) · The slutas and character of Bhagavati being what they are the students of Jalaun cannot thank the author enough for his painstaking labours The author, taught by Schubring, well realizes the enormity of the task awaltung one gpecializing in Bhagavan, a text bristling with difficulties of all sorts This, however, has not prevented Prof Delca from attempting his utmost to do justice to that rather modest part of the task which he has chosen to wat in the present case His book is divided into two main parts--one as Introduction (pp 17-69) where certain important problems concerning the composition of Bhagaval are dealt with, the other the main body (pp 71-315) where the contents of Bhagavan are presented in a summary form. In connection with the latter the chapter division and sub-division into Satakas and Uddebakas has been retained as in the original but the peal within an Uddesaka have been re-grouped so as to facilitate the cxhibition of Inter-connections that obtain between consecutive passages, (as we shall 800 such exhibition of inter connections 18 & major achlevement of Prof Deleu's present study) And frequently enough a summary of contents to supplied with notes emphasizlog polnts that need emphasis To undertato a critical appregation of all this is the purpose of the present noto.
It will be conducive to a better appreciation of Prof Deleu's perfor, mance if a few words are first independently said about the status and character of Bhagavatt Bhagapart belongs to that most fundamental division of the Jaina canon which is designated 'Anga' and is of the forma of a group of twelve texts (Including the long lost Deftlauda) And among tho Anga-texts Bhagavan alone is of the form of a huge collection of passages where Jaina positions on the most diverso- and more or lowe important-theoretical questions have been laid down and dofended. Now the very fact that Bhagavan has been included among tho Antefecte would argue the relative antiqulty of its contents but the surmise lo farthaar strengthened by the fact that 80 many of its passages cahiblt marked
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Josef Delou year 1970
Viyahapannati (Bhagarat)
Ghent Unmukty publicatioe of the
