Syadwadbhasha

Author(s): Shubhvijay Gani
Publisher: Devchand Lalbhai Pustakoddhar Fund

Page 5

PREFACE. JAIN literature comprising as it does almost all the branches that are characteristic of ancient Indian lirerature, holds no insignificent a niche in the gallery of that literature. It is considerable even as it is at present, and was more so in former times. This is not the proper place to enumerate the great writers and their works that constitute the glory of that literature. The fact that the Jain writers had flourished in great abundance in times gone
by, is evident from the vast stock of literature that has survived this day, though it is yet-in an unexplored state. & Their eminence in subject matter as well as language is manifest to those who are conversant with it.
Along with Indian Literature at large Jain literature too has been a participator in the unhappy fate it met with at the hands partly of alien bigotry, and partly of mutual religious jealosy and from the peculiarities of the
climate. There was a time when there was no other alternative to secure the very existence of such literature but All that of burying it in subterraneon archives. The very method employed for the safety of the works became later
on instrumental in further diminishing the stock, and that at a time when there was not the least chance of its being
further enriched. Those upon whom had fallen the task of being the hereditary custodians of such collections, had Illinherited the traditions of their forefathers viz. those of not suffering any part of such collection to see the rays of the
Sun, lest they might be deprived of them, and the works most dear to them be destroyed by the assailants. It is very
Jain Education Intan
For Privale & Personal use only
jainelibrary.org