Tattvarthadhigamsutram Part 1

Author(s): Umaswati, Umaswami, Hiralal R Kapadia
Publisher: Jivanchandra Sakarchandra

Page 38

PREFACE
It was after the year 1918, the year in which I passed the M. A. examination from the Elphinstone College and joined the Wilson College as Assistant Professor of Mathematics that I could sincerely devote some time to the study of Jainism, whose rudimentary principles I had learnt from my father (who unfortunately breathed his last in 1922 at the age of 50).
The more I became conversant with Jaina philosophy, the more I desired to study it at the feet of a Jaina saint well-versed in the subject. Fortunately, I secured the required help from Nyāya-tīrtha Nyāyaviśārada Upādhyāya Sri Mangalavijaya, one of the learned disciples of the late world-renowned Sastra-viśārada Jainācharya Sri Vijaya-dharma-sūri.
Among the various books that he taught me during his stay of two years in this city, Tattvārthādhigama-sūtra along with the Bhashya deserves special mention."
While studying this book I came to know that there was a Sanskrit commentary on it composed by Śrī Siddhasenagani and a part of it elucidating the first five chapters of this important work was already published by the late Mr. Mansukhbhai Bhagubhai of Ahmedabad (the second part remains unpublished till the present day).
In this connection I may mention the two reports current amongst the Jainas about it. The first of them refers to the fact that this book is not available to the public as it is neither sold nor given as a present except to the selected few. The second embodies the suggestion that many errors have crept into this book.
From my personal experience I may say that the latter is not so much well-based as the former. Of course, there are two or three instances where even words are missing. But, on the whole, when judged from the manuscripts I got for editing this book, I may say that the editor ought not to be blamed so much; because, even, in this book there are some dubious points left unsolved.
As already partly suggested I failed to get a copy of this book from the publisher. My desire of procuring it was not gratified until I got a copy of it from Sri Jayasuri (the famous disciple of the late Jaina saint Sri Mohanalālaji).
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