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III
Publisher's note
After Tīrthamkara Mahāvīra and his chief disciple Gañadhara Gautama, the name of Ācārya Kundakunda is recited just before initiating any auspicious work by Digamber Jains. This is evident from the following popular verse which is recited:
Mamgalam Bhagavāna Vīro mamgalam Gautamo Gaṇī, Mamgalam Kundakundādyo Jaina dharmostu mamgalam.
Among all the scriptures written by Ācārya Kundakunda, Samayasāra is regarded as the best. Further, among all the available scriptures written by all the saints, Samayasāra is respected as the best scripture, in the spiritual area dealing with soul science, by the Jains. Samayasāra was written by Ācārya Kundakunda in Šaursenī Prāksta language. Its two commentaries in Samskrta - Ācārya Jayasena's Tātparyavṛtti and Ācārya Amstacandra's ĀtmaKhyāti – have also been popular and have been source of inspiration to the Hindi scholars for writing the commentaries in Hindi. Pt. Jayachandji wrote the commentary in Dhundhari language (early version of the modern Hindi). Pt. Manoharlalji (from Padhan-Mainpuri), Pt. Pannalalji Sahityacharya (from Sagar), and Pt. Motichandji Kothari (from Falatan) also translated Samayasāra in Hindi. The translations and commentaries written by these and other scholars and saints provide many valuable dimensions of spiritual science for contemplation and meditation for the persons knowing Indian languages.
With the advancement of technology, almost every community has now crossed its old geographical and lingual boundaries. Jains settled abroad need their scriptures in English. In the international universities all over the world, the multicultural environment has created a spirit of harmony that leads to the requirement of teachings of great saints of all religions. Many persons who are tired of materialistic attitude feel the need of spiritual environment and peace. For many such needy and thirsty persons the availability of Samayasāra in English may be a blessing. With this view many authors in the past have come forward to translate Samayasāra in English. Ray Bahadur Shri J. L. Jaini initiated
