Jain Studies In France

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Jain Studies in France" by Kole Kaile, based on the provided pages:

Jain Studies in France: A Historical Overview of Scholarly Interest

This text, written by Madame Colette Caillat of Paris University, France, details the history and development of Jain studies in France, beginning in the early 19th century. It highlights the consistent interest French scholars have shown in the history, culture, doctrine, art, and contemporary status of Jainism and its adherents.

Early Scholarly Focus and Comparative Approach:

• Broad Interest: From the early 19th century, French encyclopedias and general reference books provided substantial accounts of Jainism's origins, development, doctrine, artistic achievements, and the customs of its sects and believers.
• Comparison with Buddhism: A significant trend among French scholars was the comparative study of Jainism and Buddhism. They observed similarities in their early histories, their rejection of Vedic authority, their opposition to animal sacrifice, parallels in the lives of Buddha and Mahavira, similarities in the characteristics of their spiritual leaders, and organizational structures of their monastic orders. This led to extensive debates on their mutual relationship, as exemplified by scholars like Burnouf, Senart, S. Levi, and Barth.
• Emphasis on Indian Roots: While acknowledging mutual relationships, French scholars also emphasized the fundamentally Indian character of both Jainism and Buddhism, pointing out their connections and potential links with Brahmanism.
• Collection of Manuscripts: The importance of Jainism was not overlooked, as evidenced by the collection of Jain manuscripts assembled by Emile Senart, whose catalog was published by Jean Filliozat.

Key French Scholars and Their Contributions:

The text highlights several prominent French scholars who significantly contributed to Jain studies:

• Sylvain Levi: Repeatedly emphasized the unique value of Jaina sources and traditions for Indian history, particularly in his studies on the religious donations of the Valabhi kings and the epoch of Kanishka and Satavahana.
• Louis Renou: Devoted significant attention to Jainism, delivering lectures on the subject and including detailed sections on Jainism in his works. He also showed great interest and sympathy for Jainism, documenting his visit to a contemporary Jain community.
• J. Filliozat: Demonstrated a precise synchronism between Jaina and Latin data, leading to the dating of Chandragupta Maurya's accession to the throne. He also contributed to studies on Jaina logic and figures like Siddhasena Divakara.
• A. Guerinot: Made substantial contributions through his early catalog of Jaina epigraphy, which included a historical sketch of Jainism based on inscriptions. He also translated the Juvaviyāra of Shantisuri into French and published an extensive and methodical bibliography of Jaina works. Despite limited research opportunities, his work was highly regarded, culminating in a comprehensive exposition of Jainism, its history, doctrine, worship, customs, and institutions.
• D. Lacombe: Collaborated with Louis Renou on extensive works detailing Jain doctrines.
• C. Caillat: Examined aspects of the Ardha-magadhi language and ancient Jaina ritual, publishing research on fasting unto death and atonements in Jaina monastic rituals. She also translated and commented on Chandavejjhaya and is currently involved in research on Jaina cosmography and narratives.

Continuing and Contemporary Research:

• Broader Works: Jainism has been featured in major encyclopedias and works on Indian philosophy and religions, with updated information and scholarly perspectives.
• Specific Sects: The Terapanthi sect of Jainism has been a subject of scholarly attention through communications and papers.
• New Avenues: Current research in France extends to anthropological studies of rites in contemporary Jain communities and the preparation of a Ph.D. on Jaina kathās (narratives) preserved in manuscripts.
• Future Prospects: An art book on Jaina cosmography is planned, indicating a continued broadening of research areas.

Overall Trend and Future Outlook:

The text concludes by acknowledging that while research in France has historically focused more on Brahmanism and Buddhism, Jainism has consistently attracted scholarly attention. The author expresses confidence that Jain studies will continue to grow in interest, especially as the field is relatively "virgin" and benefits from the cooperation of a dynamic and culturally aware Jain community. This community's interest in its heritage has been a driving force behind the promotion of Jain studies and their dissemination in France.