Germany Me Jain Dharm Ke Kuch Adhyeta - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Germany me Jain Dharm ke Kuch Adhyeta" (Some Scholars of Jainism in Germany) by Jagdishchandra Jain:

This essay, by Jagdishchandra Jain, highlights the significant contributions of German scholars to the study of Jainism and Indian knowledge systems, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The author begins by noting the burgeoning interest in Indian languages and wisdom in Europe at the start of the 19th century. Friedrich Schlegel is mentioned as one of the early Europeans to learn Sanskrit, leading to his publication "The Languages and Wisdom of the Hindus." His brother, August Wilhelm Schlegel, inspired by Friedrich, conducted a more in-depth comparative study of Sanskrit and became the first professor of Indology at the University of Bonn in 1818.

Max Müller is presented as a monumental figure in Indology during this period, instrumental in popularizing India's cultural heritage across Europe. He translated the Rigveda with Sāyana's commentary into German and produced the first Nagari transliteration. His "India, What It Can Teach Us" compilation of Cambridge lectures guided young Englishmen destined for civil service in India. Max Müller also initiated and edited the "Sacred Books of the East" series, which published numerous vital works related to Indian studies.

The text then focuses on specific German scholars who dedicated themselves to Jain studies:

Hermann Jacobi (1850-1937): Considered the foremost European scholar of Jainism, Jacobi was a disciple of Albrecht Weber. He was the first to study Jain Āgamas in their original form. He earned his Ph.D. for a dissertation on Varāhamihira's Laghu Jātaka. At the young age of 23, he traveled to India to find Jain manuscripts. Upon his return, he translated the Ācārāṅgasūtra, Kalpasūtra, Sūtrakṛtāṅgasūtra, and Uttarādhyayanasūtra into English for the "Sacred Books of the East" series, significantly promoting Jain knowledge globally. Jacobi's comparative study of Jain and Buddhist texts proved the existence of Jainism prior to Buddhism, resolving earlier confusions and debates. He also made significant contributions to Prakrit literature, compiling and publishing "Ausgewählte Erzählungen im Mahārāṣṭrī" (Selected Stories in Mahārāṣṭrī) from the commentaries of Jain Āgamas, including a Prakrit grammar and glossary. His second trip to India in 1914 focused on finding Jain manuscripts in Gujarat and Kathiawad, leading to his critical editions of important Apabhramśa texts like Bhaviṣyattakahā and Nārāyaṇasūri's Tattvānusārasaṁgraha. He was honored with a Doctor of Letters by Calcutta University and the title "Jaindarshan Diwakar" by the Jain community.
Richard Pischel (1849-1908): A prominent advocate of Prakrit studies, Pischel was a student of A.F. Stenzler, whose "Elementary Grammar of Sanskrit" remains a standard in Germany. He also benefited from Weber's lectures on Prakrit. Pischel emphasized the necessity of linguistic knowledge for Sanskrit studies, a field he felt many European scholars lacked. His monumental work, "Grammatik der Prakrit-Sprachen" (The Grammar of Prakrit Languages), based on hundreds of unpublished Prakrit manuscripts, analyzed various Prakrit dialects and their grammatical rules. In collaboration with Bühler, Pischel also critically edited Hemacandra's Deśīnāmamālā, a remarkable lexicon of medieval Aryan languages, collecting many rare words from Prakrit and Apabhramśa. Notably, both Jacobi and Pischel were professors at Kiel University in West Germany, where they completed their major works.
Ernst Leumann (1859-1931): Another disciple of Weber, Leumann specialized in the Niryuktis and Cūrṇis, the commentaries on Jain Āgamas, which had not received much scholarly attention. He taught at Strasbourg, where he had access to manuscripts of these works in the library. He published a critical edition of the Oaupātikā Sūtra, and his Prakrit Jain Āgama literature studies greatly aided Pischel's work on Prakrit languages. His "Āvaśyaka-Erzählungen" (Āvaśyaka Stories) was published in 1897, though only four fascicles were printed. He then dedicated himself to the "Vivarasiṣṭa de Āvaśyaka literature" (Miscellaneous Āvaśyaka Literature), published in Hamburg in 1934.
Walter Schubring: A renowned Jain scholar, Schubring succeeded Stenkonow as Professor of Indology at Hamburg University. He critically edited the Chedasūtras like Kalpa, Niśītha, and Vyavahārasūtra, worked on the Mahānīśīthasūtra, and edited the Ācārāṅgasūtra, publishing a German translation titled "Werk Mahavir" (Work of Mahavir). His significant and useful work, "Die Lehre der Jainas" (The Doctrines of the Jains), was published in English in Delhi in 1932. This book provided an authentic exposition of Jain beliefs based on Śvetāmbara Āgama texts. The essay notes the German custom of publishing short biographies and bibliographies after a scholar's death, but Schubring had requested no such posthumous tribute.
J. Hertel (1872-1955): A well-known scholar of Indology, Hertel was an expert in narrative literature, dedicating his life to studying the Pañcatantra. He was particularly drawn to Jain narrative literature. In his concise yet highly impactful work, "On the Literature of the Śvetāmbara Jainas in Gujarat," he praised Jain authors for preserving many Indian stories that might otherwise have been lost.
Helmut von Glasenapp (1891-1963): A professor of the history of religions at Tübingen University, Glasenapp was a distinguished scholar of religions and a prominent disciple of Jacobi. He authored several popular books on Jainism, widely cited today, including "Der Jainismus" (Jainism) and "Die Lehre vom Karma in der Philosophie der Jainas" (The Doctrine of Karma in Jain Philosophy). The former was translated into Gujarati as "Jain Dharma," and the latter into English and Hindi. His book "India, as Seen by German Thinkers" was published in 1960. Glasenapp visited India multiple times and interacted with many scholars, receiving a warm welcome from the Jain community during his visit to Delhi. His personal library was destroyed in a bombing raid during World War II.
Ludwig Alsdorf (1904-1978): A highly learned and talented scholar, Alsdorf passed away on March 28, 1968. His interest in Indology was broad, encompassing Jainism, Buddhism, Vedic studies, Aśoka's inscriptions, medieval Indian languages, Indian literature, Indian art, and modern Indian history. He had taught German at Allahabad University, where he also studied Sanskrit. He visited India numerous times, each trip enriching his knowledge. He often demonstrated his "Āryatva" (Aryan identity) by quoting Sanskrit verses when faced with potential exclusion from temples. Alsdorf published engaging accounts of his travels in Rajasthan and Jaisalmer. As a student, he studied Indology, comparative linguistics, Arabic, and Persian. He was influenced by Leumann and received significant inspiration from Jacobi to study Jainism, which led him to work on Puṣpadanta's Mahāpurāṇa, published in German in 1937 with an extensive introduction. Alsdorf considered Schubring his guru, and his guru's portrait graced his room. He earned his Ph.D. for his dissertation on Somaprabhasūri's Kumāravālapratibodha. After Schubring's death in 1950, Alsdorf became the head of the Indology department at Hamburg University and continued his research until his final days. The author of this essay had the privilege of meeting Alsdorf multiple times, always impressed by his encyclopedic knowledge. Alsdorf drew the attention of scholars to important works like Saṅghadāsagaṇi's Vasudevahiṇḍi, strongly positing it as a Jain version of Guṇāḍhya's lost Bṛhatkathā. He also argued for the etymology of "Vaitāḍya" from "Veda" and its derivatives. Alsdorf was not afraid to critically analyze the work of even eminent scholars, including Jacobi and Pischel. In 1974, a 762-page book titled "Kleine Schriften" (Small Essays) was published by the Glasenapp Foundation, a collection of Alsdorf's articles, speeches, and reviews. This included an important article on the table of contents of the Dṛṣṭivāda Sūtra. He disagreed with Dr. A.N. Upadhye's assertion that the study of some texts, like the Ṣaṭkhaṇḍāgama, became difficult due to the complexity of karma theory, arguing that similar arguments could be made for Śvetāśvatara karma texts, yet their study continued. Alsdorf was a key editor of the "Critical Pali Dictionary," initiated by V. Trenckner.

The essay concludes with reflections on why foreign scholars' opinions on Indian philosophy and religion are highly valued. They are perceived as presenting objective analyses, devoid of personal biases. The author emphasizes the importance of a strong foundation in grammar and lexicography before studying Sanskrit, Prakrit, or Apabhramśa, with comparative linguistics playing a crucial role. Proficiency in modern European languages like English, French, and German is also beneficial for research. The essay stresses the need for knowledge of Vedic and Buddhist religions alongside Jainism for comparative study. It calls for critically edited Jain texts by selected Jain scholars using modern methodologies, fearless reviews of published works, and collaborative plans by scholars from all Jain sects. The need for well-equipped libraries in central Indian locations, with modernized facilities, is highlighted. Finally, the author urges scholars to establish connections with reality, choose research topics that inspire and guide students, and ultimately illuminate Jain knowledge.