Jodhpur Hastlikhit Granthoka Suchipatra Vol 01 - Book Summary

This document is a catalog of handwritten Jain manuscripts, specifically Volume 1, focusing on works found in Jodhpur. It was published by Seva Mandir Ravti, Jodhpur, India.

Key aspects of the catalog:

Comprehensive Classification: The catalog meticulously categorizes the manuscripts into ten main sections:
1. Jain Āgama (Anga Sūtras and Bahya Sūtras divided into five sub-departments)
2. Jain Principles and Conduct
3. Jain Devotion and Rituals
4. Jain History and Accounts
5. Non-Jain Religious Texts (Vedas, Smriti, Purana, Darshana, Nyaya, Bhakti, Tantra)
6. Literature, Grammar, Lexicography, Prosody, and Poetics
7. Prosody, Rhetoric, and Language
8. Ayurveda (Medicine)
9. Astrology and Omens (Jyotisha, Ganita)
10. Unclassified Remaining Texts (Arts, Social Knowledge, etc.)
Detailed Entries: For each manuscript, the catalog provides extensive information, including:
- Serial Number (क्रमांक)
1. Transcription Year, Place, and Scribe (प्रतिलेखन वर्ष, स्थल व लिपिक)
- Source Indicator (स्रोत परिचयाङ्क)
- Title of the Manuscript (ग्रन्थ का नाम)
- Title in Roman script (नाम रोमन लिपि में)
- Name of the Author and Introduction (ग्रन्थ कर्तादि का नाम व परिचय)
- Form/Type of the Manuscript (स्वरूप) - detailing whether it's prose, verse, a commentary, etc.
- Subject Indication (विषय संकेत) - a brief summary of the content.
- Language (भाषा)
- Number of Pages (पन्नों की संख्या)
- Dimensions (Size) (नाप) - length and width in centimeters, lines per page, and average characters per line.
- Quantity/Volume (परिमाण) - number of sections, verses, etc., and indication of completeness.
- Special Notes (विशेष ज्ञातव्य) - any notable features like illustrations, modifications, readability, first editions, unpublished status, or significant revisions.
Methodology: The cataloging follows the "Catalogus Catalogorum" methodology and adheres to formats prescribed by the Government of India.
Scope: The catalog lists a total of 7,350 manuscripts. The majority of these are from after the 15th century, which is attributed to Jodhpur being founded in 1516 Vikram Samvat, and the subsequent establishment of these repositories.
Dedication and Acknowledgement: The catalog is dedicated to the late Puratva Acharya Muni Shri Jinvijayji, the first director of the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, for his lifelong service to archaeology. It also acknowledges a 75% grant from the National Archives of India towards the printing costs.
Publisher's Note: The publisher, Seva Mandir Ravti, expresses their intent to continue the project of cataloging and preserving Jain manuscripts, including collecting, merging repositories, and preserving rare or illustrated texts. They encourage scholars to contact them for further assistance and information.
Language and Numerals: The catalog primarily uses Indian numerals and Devnagari script, with Roman script for titles of convenience.
Maru-Gurjar dialect: The catalog clarifies the use of "Maru-Gurjar" for the language prevalent in Western Rajasthan and Gujarat from the 13th to 18th centuries, acknowledging the scholarly debate on its classification as Rajasthani or Gujarati.

In essence, this catalog serves as a valuable academic resource for researchers interested in Jain literature and history, providing a detailed and systematic inventory of handwritten manuscripts from Jodhpur.