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Āryikās: The Digambara Sādhvis
677
Jambūdvipa and Meruparvata represent, for Mātāji, something much more than a visible reproduction of Jaina cosmography, interesting and pleasant to visit. This is first and foremost a place of worship. Mātāji has composed a beautiful text in Sanskrit and Hindi to be used in the pūjā to the jinas of the sanctuaries of Jambūdvipa, as well as Sri Jambūdvipastuti in praise of Jambūdvipa and Trailokyacaityavandana, that is, vandana to the sanctuaries of the trilokas. 114 Herein is an appeal and exhortation addressed to all visiting Jainas to study and become better acquainted with their tradition and their doctrine.
c) Vira Jñānodaya Granthamālā: The "Mahăvira" series of
books for the increase of knowledge
The name of the publicatiors-centre, an integral part of the Institute of cosmography, is in itself suggestive; vira, for Mahāvira; jñānaudaya, udaya meaning rise or increase of, in this instance, jñāna; granthamālā, series of books. Here a continuous production of books and translations, dealing with the various complementary aspects of the dharma and addressed to differing readerships according to their level of knowledge and their age-group, certainly makes for jñānaudaya. These publications are the fruit of Mātāji's personal work, assisted by the two brahmacārins, Moticandra and Ravindrakumāra. These publications include: - translations of philosophical and doctrinal works; - works on cosmographical and doctrinal subjects; - works concerning;
- the avaśyakas, - the āryikās, - the munis, - the history of Hastināpura;
- bhakti texts: Mātāji's own poetic compositions, some in Sanskrit, others in Hindi addressed to the tirthankaras, to Bāhubali, to Jambūdvipa;
114 For these hymns, cf. Sāmāyika, pp. 77-81; 82-94.
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