Jaisalmer Ke Mahattvapurna Gyanbhandar

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text about the Jaisalmer knowledge repositories:

The text, titled "Jaisalmer ke Mahattvapurna Gyanbhandar" (Important Knowledge Repositories of Jaisalmer) authored by Muni Shri Punyavijay, highlights Jaisalmer as a significant center for Jainism, particularly due to its rich and ancient collection of manuscripts. The Shri Jinbhadrasuri Gyanbhandar is identified as the oldest and most prominent among these repositories.

Key aspects of Jaisalmer's knowledge repositories are:

• Centralization of Manuscripts: Jaisalmer's safety and its status as a Jain community center led to the collection and preservation of ancient manuscripts from other locations. Muni Jinbhadrasuri himself commissioned hundreds of new copies.
• Significance and Recognition: The repositories have attracted the attention of numerous scholars over time, including foreign scholars who have undertaken journeys to study them. The Baroda government commissioned a catalog of the manuscripts, which was later published. Scholars like Harisagar Suriji and Punyavijay have played crucial roles in the restoration and organization of these collections. Muni Punyavijay's work is particularly highlighted as instrumental in bringing the repositories to their current state.
• Vast Collection: Jaisalmer is renowned for its palm-leaf manuscripts, boasting a significant number of texts for which no other copies exist elsewhere. The repositories also contain a wealth of painted wooden panels and illustrated manuscripts.
• Artistic and Historical Value:
  • Painted Panels: From the 13th to the 15th centuries, these panels depict the lives of Tirthankaras, natural scenes, and various figures. Notably, one 13th-century panel features a giraffe, an animal not native to India, suggesting historical cultural exchange. The colors of these panels remain vibrant even after centuries.
  • Illustrated Manuscripts: The palm-leaf manuscripts also feature illustrations of Tirthankaras, Jain acharyas, and lay followers that are well-preserved.
  • Inscriptions and Colophons: The colophons at the end of the manuscripts are historically and culturally important, often mentioning ancient towns and villages, providing valuable insights into the past. For example, a 1240 AD colophon for Malladhari Hemchandra's Bhav-bhavana Prakaran mentions villages like Padra and Vasad.
• Content and Scholarly Importance:
  • Specialized Collections: The Jinbhadrasuri Gyanbhandar is noted for its unique and important Jain manuscripts.
  • Early and Rare Texts: It houses the oldest and purest copy of Mallavadi's commentary, and a rare commentary by Agustyasimha on the Dashavaikalika (Agam literature), which is not found in any other repository.
  • Astrology and Grammar: The repository contains an ancient palm-leaf copy of Padaliptasuri's Jyotish Karandak Tika from the 9th-10th century, considered the oldest such manuscript in any Jain repository, making it a significant item for the study of ancient scripts. It also contains texts on prosody by Jayadev and Kasishat, as well as Vakroktijivita and Alankaradarpan of Prakrit literature.
  • Literary Works: The collection includes comprehensive works on poetics such as Rudrata's Kavyalankara, Mammata's Kavyaprakasha with Someshwar's commentary Abhidhavritti, and the Kavya Kalpalata by Mahamatya Ambadas with its commentary Pallavshesha.
  • Beyond Jain Literature: The repositories are not limited to Jain scriptures. They also contain valuable materials for the study of Vedic and Buddhist literature, including a 12th-century copy of the Buddhist philosophical text Tattva Sangraha with its commentary and Dharmottara.
• Manuscript Types: The collection includes approximately four hundred palm-leaf manuscripts, with many dating back to the 9th-10th centuries. Paper manuscripts from Vikram Samvat 1246-1278 are also present, considered remarkably ancient for paper manuscripts.
• Repository Organization: Jaisalmer historically had ten knowledge repositories. Except for those belonging to the Tapagachha and Laukhagachha, all others were under the administration and supervision of the KhartarGachha. The Jinbhadrasuri Gyanbhandar is located in the sanctum between two temples.

In essence, the text emphasizes Jaisalmer's invaluable contribution to preserving ancient knowledge, particularly Jain religious and philosophical texts, but also extending to broader Indian literature, art, and history, making it a vital center for scholarly research both domestically and internationally.