Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 07

Added to library: September 2, 2025

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First page of Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 07

Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 07" based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 0

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai, Jayant Kothari

Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Overview:

This volume, "Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 07," is a crucial index and reference work for the preceding six volumes of the "Jain Gurjar Kavio" series. It does not introduce new biographical or literary information about Jain poets of Gujarat (Gurjar). Instead, its primary purpose is to provide comprehensive indexes of the material presented in volumes 1 through 6. This makes the entire series more accessible for researchers and scholars interested in the literary, historical, social, and religious traditions of the Jain community in Gujarat over approximately 700 years.

Key Features and Content:

The volume is essentially a compilation of various indexes, including:

  1. Alphabetical Indexes:

    • Authors: An alphabetical index of authors (both Jain and non-Jain), with additional information like their gachha (lineage) and guru (teacher) names where available. This helps distinguish between authors with the same name.
    • Works: An alphabetical index of literary works, presented in both a continuous alphabetical order and a classified, categorized manner. The classified index categorizes works by type (e.g., historical, narrative, knowledge-based) and further subdivides them by prakar (type).
    • Persons: An alphabetical index of individuals mentioned, including their names and relevant affiliations.
    • Castes & Lineages (Vansh Gotraadi): An index of family names, lineages, and gotras mentioned in the text.
    • Places: An alphabetical index of geographical locations and places cited in the works.
    • Copiers (Lahiyao): An alphabetical index of the names of scribes who copied manuscripts.
    • Sanskrit-Prakrit Works: A separate alphabetical index for works originally written in Sanskrit and Prakrit.
  2. Chronological Index: A chronological index of works, arranged by their samvat (Jain calendar year of composition).

  3. Revised and Expanded Edition: The second edition of this volume, revised and augmented by Jayant Kothari, is a significant improvement over the first edition. The editor highlights several key changes and additions:

    • Inclusion of Jain and Non-Jain Authors/Works: Unlike the first edition, which excluded non-Jain authors and works from its indexes, this revised edition includes them, providing a more complete picture.
    • Consolidated Chronological Index: The chronological index, which was only present in the first two parts of the first edition, has been extended to cover the entire material from volumes I to VI.
    • Expanded Place Indexes: The place indexes, which were only in the third part of the first edition, are now comprehensive for all volumes.
    • New Indexes: Indexes for lineages (vansh gotradi), copiers (lahiyou), and Sanskrit-Prakrit works are newly added in this edition.
    • Refined Work Indexes: The distinction between major and minor works, and the categorization of works in the first edition, have been revisited. This volume provides both a continuous alphabetical index and a classified alphabetical index of works, with a more extensive inclusion of minor works.
    • Identification of Sadhus: The index specifically adds gachha and guru names to identify sadhu (monk) authors, clarifying distinctions between those with similar names.
  4. Editorial Statement by Jayant Kothari: The editor, Jayant Kothari, details the meticulous and labor-intensive process of creating this revised index volume. He expresses his commitment to preserving and completing the work of the original compiler, Mohanlal Dalichand Desai. Kothari emphasizes that this is not merely a re-printing but a significant reorganization and research effort. He acknowledges the help of several collaborators in compiling, sorting, and preparing the press copy for thousands of index cards. He also describes his own extensive involvement in refining the methodology for greater utility, ensuring accuracy, and correcting errors identified during the indexing process, which turned the indexes into a research tool.

  5. Research and Data Enhancement: Kothari explains how the indexing process led to further research, correcting inaccuracies in the original material (like duplicate entries, incorrect author names, flawed guru lineages) and integrating external data to provide more complete information (like gachha and guru names). These corrections are consolidated in a section called "Sankalit Shuddhivuddhi" (Collected Corrigenda/Enhancements) at the end of the volume.

  6. Significance of the Work: Kothari highlights the extraordinary value of "Jain Gurjar Kavio" as a reference work, containing a vast amount of information about seven centuries of Jain literature, history, and society. He believes this material could be the basis for numerous PhD theses and research papers.

  7. Suggestions for Future Research: The volume concludes with a list of potential research topics stemming from the indexed material, including studies on the contributions of Jain monks, nuns, and lay followers, the influence of other traditions, analysis of literary forms, themes, and styles, the study of manuscript traditions (including the role of women scribes and patrons), and linguistic analysis of names.

  8. Acknowledgement of Contributors: The editor expresses gratitude to various individuals and institutions for their support, including collaborators, reviewers (like Bhupendrabhai Trivedi, Bharti Vaidya, Balwant Jani), scholars whose works were cited, booksellers, and the printing press.

In essence, "Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 07" serves as an indispensable scholarly apparatus, unlocking the rich repository of information contained in the earlier volumes of this monumental series on medieval Gujarati Jain literature and history. It emphasizes a commitment to accuracy, comprehensiveness, and making a vast historical and literary corpus accessible for further academic exploration.Summary of "Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 07"

Book Title: Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 07 Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai, Jayant Kothari Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Overview:

"Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 07" is the seventh and final volume in a comprehensive series dedicated to documenting the Jain poets and their literary works from the Gujarat region. Unlike the preceding volumes which focused on presenting biographical and bibliographical information about the poets and their compositions, this volume serves as a critical index and reference tool. It compiles and organizes the vast data previously presented in Volumes 1 through 6, making the entire series significantly more accessible and usable for scholarly research. The volume is a testament to meticulous indexing, cross-referencing, and the effort to create a unified and navigable database of Jain literary heritage.

Key Contents and Features:

  1. Comprehensive Indexing: The core of Volume 07 is its extensive collection of indexes, designed to help researchers locate specific information within the first six volumes. These include:

    • Alphabetical Indexes of Authors: Listing all authors chronologically by their entry number within the series. It also provides specific notes about Jain authors, indicating their gachha (sect/tradition) and guru (teacher) names where known, aiding in disambiguation. Non-Jain authors and their works are also included.
    • Alphabetical Indexes of Works: This is presented in two ways:
      • Continuous Alphabetical Index of Works: A single, comprehensive alphabetical list of all mentioned works.
      • Classified Alphabetical Index of Works: This further categorizes the works based on their subject matter and form (e.g., historical, narrative, didactic, praise songs, types of poetry like ras, fagu, etc.), both for Jain and non-Jain creations. It also includes an index of work types (prakarnam).
    • Alphabetical Index of Personal Names: Listing all individuals mentioned across the volumes.
    • Index of Lineages, Gotras, etc. (Vansh Gotradi): This is a new addition, providing valuable information about family and community structures.
    • Index of Places: An alphabetical listing of all geographical locations mentioned.
    • Index of Scribes (Lahiyao): An alphabetical index of the individuals who copied manuscripts, which is important for manuscript studies.
    • Index of Sanskrit-Prakrit Works: A separate index for works in these classical languages.
  2. Chronological Index of Works: This index provides a list of works sorted by the samvat (Jain calendar year) of their composition, offering a chronological perspective on the literary output. This index covers all works mentioned in Volumes 1 to 6.

  3. Revised and Augmented Edition: Jayant Kothari, the editor of this second edition, highlights the significant improvements made. It's not just a reprint; it involves re-organization and substantial research. Kothari emphasizes the integration of data from various sources to provide clarity, such as adding gachha and guru names for Jain authors, which helps in identifying them accurately. He also notes the inclusion of previously omitted non-Jain authors and works.

  4. Methodological Improvements: Kothari explains the meticulous process of creating these indexes, emphasizing the thousands of cards processed, sorted, and integrated. He details the challenges of sorting names with variations (e.g., Karma vs. Karam, Chandra vs. Chand) and clarifies the indexing methodology, such as ignoring honorifics for ordering names and the painstaking effort to clarify the lineage of Jain monks.

  5. Research and Correction: The editing process involved identifying and correcting errors in the original volumes, such as duplicated works, incorrect author attributions, and unclear lineages. These corrections are compiled in an appendix, demonstrating the scholarly rigor applied.

  6. Scope and Significance: The editor underscores the immense historical and literary value of the "Jain Gurjar Kavio" series, stating that it contains a wealth of information on 700 years of Jain literature, history, and social life in Gujarat. He posits that this material could serve as the foundation for numerous PhD theses.

In Summary:

"Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 07" is a vital bibliographical and indexing tool that significantly enhances the usability of the entire "Jain Gurjar Kavio" series. It provides a systematic and comprehensive reference point for authors, works, individuals, places, and chronological data related to Jain poets of Gujarat. The volume represents a significant research and editorial undertaking, aiming to make this valuable historical and literary resource accessible for deeper study and analysis.