Book Title: Vijaydharmasuri
Author(s): A J Sunavala
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

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Page 27
________________ GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 21 and deeper trials of malice, jealousy or envenomed hate; of moral powers that shine the brighter in the gloom of party spirit and party strife, caste feelings and caste jealousies, sectarian dislikes and disputes, religious contests, quarrels and controversies. A LEADER IN THE RANKS OF THOUGHT Passing from personal characteristics to his services in the domain of learning and literature, we find that Vijaya Dharma Sūri rightly deserves to be called a leader in the ranks of thought. His spiritual culture, which is abundantly evidenced by the huge mass of works written and published by him, is admittedly of the highest order. In recognition of his great services in the sphere of literature and his valuable contributions to the domain of thought, he has been honoured by the distinguished title of Shāstravishārada Jaināchārya, conferred on him by the consensus of a large number of Pandits from all parts of India. Again, he has had the honour of having been elected as an Associate Member of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. He is also very well known to all orientalists in Europe whose sphere of work is directly or indirectly associated with Jainism. It is rather strange that his literary talents should have thus far received inadequate attention from Indian scholars. It is, indeed, a matter of regret that the literary merits of the great Monk should not have been so widely known and extensively recognized in India, the land of his own birth, as they

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