Vijaydharmasuri

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

Page 65

JAIN ACHARYA AND WESTERN SCHOLARS 59
LITERARY CONFERENCE AT JODHPUR
Soon after the rains Vijaya Dharma Sūri left Agra, and, continuing his journey through Muttra, Brindabun, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Kishangarh, Ajmer and Beawar, entered into southern Marwar. His presence there was taken advantage of by the Jainas of Rajputana, who thought of holding a conference, with a view to bringing together upon a common platform Jain scholars and other workers in the field of Jain literature, for the purpose of discussing and devising ways and means of preserving and propagating the various branches of their literature. The historic city of Jodhpur-the city which played so important a part in ancient and mediaeval times in the history of Rajputana was chosen for the seat of the conference. The first Jain Literary Conference was accordingly held under the distinguished auspices of Vijaya Dharma Sūri, on the third day of March, 1914. Several resolutions were passed in this Conference with regard to the steps which should be taken to preserve and divulge the productions of the ancient Jain civilization in that part of the country.
DR. HERMANN JACOBI AND THE JAIN MONK It was also in this Conference, in the midst of a galaxy of erudite scholars, and in the presence of the most distinguished representatives of the Jain and other Indian communities, who had congregated in the august assemblage from Bombay, Bengal, and other parts of India, that Dr. Hermann Jacobi, the most dis