Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 6

Author(s): L C Jain
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 238

Satkhondagama or Saurseni Jain Scriptures
3
Vacaspati Pt. Deyakinandana Sastri and Prof. Dr. A. N. Upadhya in the beginning.
The respectable Bhattarakas (Chief of the Jaina Monastry) of Mudabidre (Karnataka State, India) deserve all praise who valued the original palm-leaf copies of the Agama texts (of S. K. and K. P.) more than their lives and treasured them for centuries. They were, however, not in favour of making these texts public, but some devoted and affluent persons like Setha Manikacanda, J. P Bombay, Setha Panna Lala Jaina, Amaraoti (M. P.) etc, made up their mind to get these published at any cost. With the inspiration and help of these affluent persons, scholars like Pt. Gajapati Upadhyaya, Mrs. Pt. Luxmibai, Pt. Sitarama Sastri, Pt. Lokanatha Sastri etc. deeply and devotedly studied the ancient Palm-Leaf mss. of S. K. with Dhawala and Jai-Dhawala Commentaries written in old Kannada-script and prepared some copies in Devanagariscript keeping themselves confined in solitary room in undisclosed place for years together facing all sorts of difficulties. With these base-materials and with the financial assistance of Srimanta Setha Sitabrai LaxrniCandra Jain of Vidisa (M. P.), three Scholars, viz. Prof. Dr. H. L. Jaina, Pt. Phula Candra Sastri, and Pt. H. L. Sastri started editing and translating S. K. with Dhawala Commentary in 1936 A. D. and by the year 1959 they got 5 parts (Khandas) of it published in 16 volumes. The editing and translation work of Mahabandha, the 6th part (khanda) of S K. was taken up by respectable Pt. Phulacandra Sastri who has
w got 7 volumes published and is almost completing the 8th and the last volume of it.
The editing and translation work of K. P. (with Maha Dhawala Commentary) was completed by Pt. Phulacandra Sastri and Pt. Kailasa Candra Sastri and has been published in 13 Volumes.
The learned scholars have completed the work of editing and translating these valuable texts in such a devoted and dedicated manner that history will ever remember them as "Saraswati Putra" (distinguished sons of Goddess of learning).
The S. K. Literature is undoubtedly of high degree from the point of view of spiritualism and philosophy of life. At the same time, it is a precious treasure of Indian classics from the point of view of History, Culture, Literature, Philology, language and style. It is high time to popularise this literature among the people for study, teaching and comparative research.