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SAMBODHI
certain phonetic changes as seen in earlier and later word-forms, along with a complete alphabetical index of all the word-forms of the restored text, and has also presented in parralel columns, the restored text along with the corresponding texts according to the known earlier editions Thus, the present work by Dr Chandra succeeds in giving a glimpse of some phonological and morphological features of the original Agamic Ardhamägadhi, of which we find a later form in the Eastern Aśokan inscriptions And the literary evidence based on comparative documentation and assessment of all available data substantiates it
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N M KANSARA
Dr Chandra has tackled one of the several aspects of the task of restoring the Agamic texts Other requisites for forming a sound, authentic and trustworthy idea of the original character of the Agamic texts and the historical changes they have undergone, are those of tracing and locating old words and meanings, expressions, phrases, verses, stylistic devices, themes, legends and tales that are specific and commonly shared by the early stratum of the Ardhamägadhi and the Päh canonical texts
This is indeed a stupendous, rather Herculean, task of important research work that may be taken up by other veteran scholars and students of the Ardhamāgadhi canon, for which Dr Chandra has taken for himself the role of a torch-bearer, and which should be undertaken with regard to the senior texts of the Jaina canon The importance and the stupendity of the undertaking can be realized when it is taken into account that Dr Chandra could cover only a uny fraction of the text of just one part of the one of the eleven Agamic texts Let us hope, inspite of his uneven health, he continues to inspire some of the like-minded scholars of Praknt languages and Jainology to take up the bid and continue his researches in the field with all the earnestness it fully deserves NMK
JAINISM IN INDIA. TRAVEL NOTES AND PHOTOGRAPHS, by Nicole Tiffen, Introduction by Colette Caillat, English Translation by Patrick Andrews, Weber, Switzerland, 1987, pp 116, Price not mentioned
This excellent volume comprising high-class photographs of the Jain temple of Palitana, Shankheshwar and Delaware, and Ranakpur is a rare feast for the eyes of a connoisseur of Jain art and architecture of Gujarat
In he introductory article, entitled 'The Jain Community in India' Professor Colette Calliat of the University of Paris has surveyed the ongin of Jainism and
