Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 1

Author(s): Nathmal Tatia
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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CHIEF EDITOR'S NOTE
A Research Journal was a kinly felt desideratum which is being fulfilled by the publication of this first volume of our Bulletin. All the papers published here are written by the members of the Institute excepting three which are by Sri Devkant Barua, frofessor N. K. Devraj and Pandit Sukhlalji.
We are exceptionally fortunate to have a very lucid exposition of Jaina Logic by Professor Dr. Satkari Mookerjee as the first paper of the Bulletin. This is perhaps the first attempt at a critical evaluation of logical problems from a Jaina philosopher's standpoint. The treatment is based on the Nyayavatara of Siddhasena Divakara and the commentary on it by Siddharşi Gani and the tippana of Devabhadrasūri. A student of modern logic will derive much benefit from this paper inasmuch as some of the main problems of Indian Logic have been presented in modern terminology which is current in present-day logical treatises. The paper has brought out clearly the epistemological standpoints of the realists, the idealists and the sceptic materialists as propounded in the ancient treatises of Indian logic.
The Bulletin also contains a very illuminating talk in Hindi "The given extempore by Sri Devkant Barua, Rajyapal of Bihar on root of Religion: Intuition and Reasoning'. Intuition unsupported by reasoning is blind faith which is sometimes likely to be identified with helpless dependence on fate, which has done much harm to religion. Scholars will find here a very penetrating evaluation of intuition and reasoning illustrated by references to the rational outlook of Gautama Buddha as recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka of the Pali canon.
The paper 'Dharma and Tattva' gives a historical survey of Indian religions in theory and practice the roots whereof are found in the Sūtras of Kanāda and Aksapada. In this paper Pandit Sukhlalji has emphasised the need of historical and comparative study of Indian philosophies in the absence of which our grasp of the subject is bound to remain narrow and partial.
The Bulletin contains papers read at the annual seminar held to date at the Institute on the occasion of Mahāvīra Jayanti.
The Sanskrit text of the Nyāyāvatāra and its commentaries have been printed at the end of the Bulletin for ready reference by scholars who may like to consult the original text while going through Professor Mookerjee's paper.