Jain Pustak Parichay

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Pustak Parichay" by Sarabhai Manilal Nawab, based on the provided catalog pages:

Overall Purpose and Scope:

"Jain Pustak Parichay" (Jain Book Introduction/Catalog) is a meticulously compiled catalog of Jain literature published or made available by Sarabhai Manilal Nawab and Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar in Umara, Surat. The catalog serves as a comprehensive guide to a vast collection of Jain religious, philosophical, historical, literary, and cultural works. It showcases the publisher's dedication to preserving and disseminating Jain knowledge across various languages, primarily Gujarati, with a significant presence of Sanskrit and Prakrit texts, as well as some English translations.

Key Themes and Categories of Books:

The catalog reveals a rich and diverse collection of Jain literature, covering a wide spectrum of topics:

• Agamas (Jain Scriptures): A significant portion of the catalog is dedicated to the foundational Jain scriptures, the Agamas. This includes original texts, commentaries (Tikas), translations (Gujarati, Hindi, English), and critical editions of important Agamas such as:

  • Achārāṅgasūtra
  • Sūtra-kr̥tāṅga
  • Bhagavatī-sūtra (with extensive commentaries and indices)
  • Sthānāṅgasūtra
  • Samavāyāṅgasūtra
  • Upāsakadaśāṅga
  • Vipāka-sūtra
  • Uttarādhyayanasūtra
  • Daśavaikālika-sūtra
  • Praśnavyākaraṇa
  • Niryāvalikā
  • Āvaśyakasūtra
  • Vyavahārasūtra
  • Br̥hatkalpa
  • Niśītha
  • Prajñāpanā-sūtra
  • Anuyogadvāra-sūtra
  • Rājapraśnīya
  • Jitakalpasūtra

• Jain Philosophy and Logic (Nyaya): The catalog highlights works on Jain philosophical principles, metaphysics, and logic, including:

  • Anekāntavāda (theory of manifold aspects)
  • Syādvāda (theory of conditioned predication)
  • Syādvādamañjarī
  • Sammati-tarka (by Siddhasena Divākara, with extensive commentaries)
  • Pramāṇa-mīmāṁsā
  • Nyāyāvatāra
  • Laghīyas-trayī
  • Khaṇḍana-khaṇḍa-khādya
  • Dravya-guṇa-paryāya related texts
  • Works by Yashovijaya Upadhyaya and other prominent Jain logicians.

• Jain Art and Iconography: A standout publication is Śrī Jain Citrakalpadruma, described as an unparalleled historical collection of Jain-influenced art from Gujarat, spanning from the 9th to the 20th century, featuring numerous colored and monochrome illustrations.

• Jain History and Biographies: The catalog lists works on the history of Jainism, biographies of Tirthankaras, important Jain monks, scholars, kings, and influential figures, such as:

  • Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣa-caritra (Lives of 63 Illustrious Persons)
  • Biographies of Hemacandrācārya, Vastupāla-Tejpāla, Bhaṇḍāri Pethadkumār, Mahārṣi Mehtārj, Kāmavijetā Śthūlibhadra, and others.
  • Histories of Jain Tirthas and their architecture.
  • Works detailing the lineage of monastic orders (Gaccha-āvalis).

• Jain Literature (Kāvya, Kathā, Stotra, etc.): A vast collection of Jain literary works, including:

  • Epic poems and narratives like Samaraicchakahā (by Haribhadra Sūri), Kumārapālapratibodha, Dharma-udaya Mahākāvya, Bhānu-candra Gani Charita, Khartara Gurvāvalī.
  • Stotras (hymns and devotional poetry) such as Śrī Jain Stotra Sandoha (comprising 1151 stotras), Bhaktāmar Stotra, Kalyāṇa-mandira Stotra, Mantrādhirāja Cintāmaṇi.
  • Stories and moral tales (Kathās) like Upadeśapad, Śrutasundari Caritra, Kathāratnakośa.
  • Works on prosody, rhetoric, and grammar, particularly those by Hemacandrācārya (Kāvyānuśāsana, Vardhamāna-caritra).

• Jain Rituals, Practices, and Mysticism (Mantra Shastra): The catalog features important texts related to Jain rituals, practices, and mantra traditions, including:

  • Śrī Bhairava Padmāvatī Kalpa (a significant work on mantra science)
  • Śrī Mantraḍhirāja Chintāmaṇi
  • Texts on Panchasūtra, Pariṣṭaparva, Chaitryavandana, Pūjā Sangraha, and various rituals.
  • Texts related to Yantra (diagrams) and their application.

• Prakrit Language and Literature: A substantial collection of works on Prakrit grammar and literature, reflecting the linguistic heritage of Jain scriptures:

  • Prākṛta Mārgopadeśikā (a notable guide to learning Prakrit)
  • Grammars and dictionaries of Prakrit and related languages (Ardhamāgadhī).
  • Collections of Prakrit stories and literary works.

• Sanskrit and Other Indian Literature: The catalog also includes significant works from broader Indian literary traditions, often with Jain connections or scholarly introductions by Jain scholars. This includes classical Sanskrit poetry and drama by Kālidāsa, Māgha, Bhāravi, Bhavabhūti, and works from various philosophical schools (Vedanta, Nyaya, Mimamsa, etc.).

• Dictionaries and Lexicons: Essential reference works for understanding Jain and Sanskrit literature are listed, such as:

  • Anekārtha Sāhitya Sangraha
  • Jaināgamaśabda-kośa
  • Abhidhāna-rājeṉdra-kośa
  • Paiāyasa-daha-mahoṇṇao (Prakrit Thesaurus)

• Works by Scholar-Editors and Authors: The catalog prominently features works edited or authored by prominent Jain scholars like Sarabhai Manilal Nawab himself, Muni Punyavijayji, Muni Chaturvijayji, Pandit Sukhlalji, Pandit Bechardas Jivraj Doshi, Pandit Heerlal Kapadia, and others, highlighting their contributions to Jain scholarship.

Publisher and Distributor Information:

• Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab.
• Distributor/Location: Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar, Umara, Surat. The catalog also provides their website: www.umaragyanbhandar.com.
• Reliable Source: The introduction on page 1 emphasizes Shree Jain-Pustak-Parichay as a reliable place to find Jain religious books, quoting the Jain principle "First knowledge, then compassion."

Key Features and Strengths of the Catalog:

• Comprehensive Listing: The catalog provides detailed listings of numerous Jain books, often including authors, editors, translators, prices, and sometimes a brief description or highlight of the content.
• Historical Depth: It covers texts from ancient times to more contemporary publications, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to Jain literature.
• Scholarly Editions: Many of the listed books are scholarly editions, featuring critical analysis, original texts, commentaries, and translations, often compiled by renowned Jain scholars.
• Multilingual Content: The availability of works in Gujarati, Sanskrit, Prakrit, and English underscores a broad reach and accessibility.
• Visual Appeal: The mention of numerous illustrations (e.g., in Śrī Jain Citrakalpadruma, Mahāprābhāvika Navasmaraṇa, Śrī Mahāvīra Caritra) indicates a commitment to making Jain texts visually engaging.
• Value Proposition: The catalog often highlights the affordability and quality of the publications, noting that many rare and comprehensive texts are made available at reasonable prices.

In essence, "Jain Pustak Parichay" by Sarabhai Manilal Nawab is a monumental bibliographic resource that serves as a gateway to the vast and profound world of Jain literature, showcasing the dedication of its publisher to making this rich heritage accessible to a wider audience.