Tattvasangraha 01

Author(s): Embar Krishnamacharya
Publisher: Central Library

Page 12

FOREWORD
Gaekwad, who deputed the late Mr. C. D. Dalal, a trained librarian and a learned scholar, to inspect and examine the famous Jain Bhandars in Gujarat and Rajputana. Mr. Dalal, after painstaking labours, discovered a number of important and unique MSS at Jaisalmer, and among these were the text and the commentary of Tattvasarigraha." He at once realised the importance of the work, but could neither secure the MSS nor get copies, for, as is widely known on this side, it is easier to bring God down from heaven than to get a MS from the Jain Bhandars of Pattan and Jaisalmer, but the undaunted searcher of MSS was not disheartened. The clue thrown out by Pandit Dvivedi had put him on the right track, and when he found an opportunity of examining the Bhandars of Pattan he succeeded in running his quarry to earth in the Wâdi Pârsvanatha Bhandar in that ancient city. Moreover, hy his personal influence he secured a loan of the manuscripts with the object of publishing the work in the Gackwad's Oriental Series.
We take this opportunity of recording our grateful thanks to the keepers of the Wâdi Parsvanatha Bhandar, who have shown great courtesy and consideration in permitting the Central Library authorities to retain their valuable manuscripts for the last six years.
The work of editing was entrusted to our esteemed editor, Pandit Embar Krishnamacharya of Vadtal. He is a deeply learned S'âstrî of the old school, well acquainted with all the tenets of the leading philosophical schools in India. That he has made a thorough study of Buddhist Philosophy, Logic and Religion will be evident from the excellent manner in which he has edited the text, restored readings from almost illegible MSS, and prepared elaborate lists of quotations and their identifications with a full eummary of contents in the Kårikå form. His Sanskrit Introduction is scholarly and informing and written in a judicious spirit. He has in short spared no pains in discharging his onerous task. 1. Catalogue of MSS in the Jaisalmer Bhandars (Gaek wad's Oriental
Series, No. XXI ), pp. 1 and 15.