Germany Ke Jain Manishi Dr Harman Jacobi

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text about Dr. Hermann Jacobi:

The book "Germany ke Jain Manishi Dr Harman Jacobi" by Pavan Surana, highlights the significant contributions of the German scholar Hermann Jacobi to the study of Jain philosophy and literature. Jacobi is recognized alongside other prominent German Indologists like Weber, Schubring, Bühler, Glasenapp, and Roth.

Early Life and Education: Born in Cologne, Germany, on February 1, 1850, Jacobi initially pursued mathematics but found it less engaging than philosophy, literature, and linguistics. He shifted his focus to Sanskrit and comparative linguistics, earning his doctorate from the University of Bonn in 1872. Bonn University was already an established center for Indian studies.

Influential India Trip and Research: Jacobi spent a year in England before embarking on a crucial trip to India in 1873-74. He had the opportunity to travel with Georg Bühler, another renowned German scholar who dedicated much of his life to India, studying Jain manuscripts. Bühler's exceptional fluency in Sanskrit impressed even conservative Indian scholars, leading them to share their precious manuscripts with him and, by extension, with Jacobi.

During his Indian travels, particularly in Rajasthan and Gujarat, Jacobi visited ancient Jain institutions and interacted with Jain monks and scholars. This journey proved to be a turning point in his life, providing him with invaluable insights and a new direction for his research into Jainism, despite being a foreigner.

Academic Career and Key Discoveries: Upon returning from India, Jacobi became a professor of Indian literature at the University of Münster in 1876. He later moved to Kiel in 1885 and returned to his birthplace, Cologne, in 1886.

In 1913-14, Jacobi visited India for a second time. He was invited by Calcutta University to lecture on poetics and was awarded an honorary doctorate. During this visit, he made a significant discovery of two Apabhramsa works: "Bhavissadatta Katha" and "Sanatkumara Charitam." Prior to this, knowledge of Apabhramsa was largely derived from grammatical citations. He published these works in 1918 and 1921, respectively.

Notable Works and Contributions: Jacobi retired from university service in 1922 but continued his research until his death in 1937. He published and translated numerous Jain works into German. Some of his significant publications include:

• "Two Jain Stotras"
• "Kalpasutra" by Bhadrabahu (with an introduction, commentary, and Sanskrit-Prakrit glossary)
• "Kalkacharya Kathanam"
• "Arya Ranga Sutta" (Acharanga Sutra) of the Shvetambara Jains
• "Sthaviravali" by Hemachandracharya
• Translation of "Kalpasutra"
• "Uttaradhyayana Sutra" and "Sutrakritanga Sutra"
• "Upamiti Bhava Prapancha Katha"
• "Pauamchariya" by Vimalasuri

Beyond editing and translating Jain texts, Jacobi authored several research papers on Jainism. He is considered a leading scholar in Jain literature, alongside his guru, Weber. His research also extended to mathematics and science. His publications of Prakrit texts inspired him to write a Prakrit grammar. He also translated Anandavardhana's "Dhvanyaloka" and explained the concept of inference logically in his paper on Indian logic. For the general reader, he wrote "Light of Orient."

Recognition and Legacy: Jacobi was the first foreign scholar to scientifically establish that not only Mahavira but also Parshvanatha were historical figures. He also proved that Jainism is an independent religion, not a derivative of Buddhism. In recognition of his extensive research on Jain literature, the Jain community bestowed upon him the title "Jain Darshan Diwakar" (The Sun of Jain Philosophy).

The text concludes with a quote attributed to Acharya Shri Jinkantisaagar Suri, emphasizing the importance of wealth for fulfilling necessary tasks rather than hoarding it unnecessarily, and linking the purity of mind to the purity of food. This quote highlights the ethical dimensions often discussed within Jain philosophy.