Kavya Prakash Part 02

This summary is based on the provided pages from "Kavya Prakash Part 02" by Mammatacharya, published by Rajasthan Prachyavidya Pratishthan. The catalog link indicates it's part of a larger collection of Jain texts. The provided pages primarily consist of a table of contents, a list of books digitized by Shri Ashapuran Parshvanath Jain Gyanbhandar, and extensive lists of abbreviations and parallel readings from manuscripts.

Here's a breakdown of the key aspects from the provided text:

1. The Work Itself:

• Title: "Kavya Prakash Part 02" (काव्यप्रकाश भाग - २)
• Author: Mammatacharya (मम्मटाचार्य)
• Publisher: Rajasthan Prachyavidya Pratishthan (राजस्थान प्राच्यविद्या प्रतिष्ठान)
• Context: This publication is identified as the "second part" of the "Kavya Prakash," which is further described as being "with the Samketa named Kavyadarśa of Someśvara Bhatta" (भट्ट सोमेश्वरविरचित काव्यादर्श संकेत - समवेत मम्मटाचार्यकृत काव्य प्रकाश). This indicates it's not just the standard "Kavya Prakash" but a specific edition that includes a commentary or interpretation by Someśvara Bhatta.
• Edition Details: The publication date is given as Vikrama Samvat 2015 (approximately 1959 AD) and National Saka era 1880. The editing is credited to Prof. Rasiklal C. Parikh. The first edition print run was 750 copies.
• Content of Part 02: The "second part" specifically contains a "detailed introduction, variant readings, appendixes, etc." (विस्तृत प्रस्तावना-पाठभेद-परिशिष्टादि). The introduction discusses general remarks about the work, a critical notice of manuscripts, authorship and dates of Mammata and Someśvara, and extensive comparative studies of the "Samketa" commentaries.

2. The "Kavyadarśa Kāvyaprakāśa-samketa" Commentary:

• Significance: This edition highlights the "hitherto unpublished commentary of Bhatta Someśvara, known by the name of Kāvyādarśa Kāvyaprakāśa-samketa," described as "one of the earliest commentaries on Kāvyaprakāśa."
• Manuscript Basis: The text of this commentary is based on several manuscripts, including palm-leaf manuscripts from the Bada-Bhandara of Jesalmere, a paper manuscript from Gujarat Vidya Sabha, and manuscripts from the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.
• Authorship of Kāvyaprakāśa: The introduction delves into the discussion of "double authorship" of the Kāvyaprakāśa itself, referring to traditions that suggest a portion of the work might have been composed by someone other than Mammata, possibly named Alaka or Alatta.
• Dating: The introduction provides extensive discussion on the dates of Mammata (estimated around the last quarter of the 11th century or between 1050-1100 AD) and Someśvara (likely lived between 1135-1150 AD and 1160 AD, based on manuscript dating and comparative studies of his commentary).
• Comparative Studies: A significant portion of the introduction is dedicated to comparing Someśvara's Samketa with other commentaries, particularly those of Manikycandra and Rucaka (also known as Ruyyaka). These comparisons involve identifying parallel passages and drawing conclusions about the chronology and influences between these works. The text suggests Manikycandra borrowed from Someśvara, and Someśvara borrowed from Rucaka, placing Someśvara chronologically between the two.

3. Shri Ashapuran Parshvanath Jain Gyanbhandar's Digitization Project:

• Project: The pages repeatedly mention the "Aho Shrutagyanam Granth Jirnyaudhar" (अहो श्रुतज्ञानम् ग्रंथ जीर्णोद्धार) project by Shri Ashapuran Parshvanath Jain Gyanbhandar, sponsored by the Shri Sumatinath Shvetambar Murtipujak Jain Sangh, Memnagar.
• Goal: The project aims to digitize and create DVD copies of ancient and rare books that are otherwise difficult to access. The listed books are primarily Jain religious and philosophical texts, as well as works on grammar, logic, arts, sciences, and history.
• Accessibility: The digitized books are made available for download from the website www.ahoshrut.org. The lists indicate multiple sets of digitized books, dating from 2009 to 2016.
• Included Works: The extensive lists (pages 2-9 and beyond) showcase a vast number of Sanskrit and Prakrit texts, many of which are foundational Jain scriptures or commentaries, as well as significant works from other Indian traditions (e.g., Shilpa Shastra, Ayurveda, Jyotisha). The presence of "Kavya Prakash" itself in this list suggests its importance and accessibility within the Jain intellectual tradition, or perhaps the broad scope of the digitization project.

4. General Context:

• Jain Education International: The text is marked with "JAIN EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL FOR PRIVATE AND PERSONAL USE ONLY," indicating its origin and intended audience.
• Rajasthan Prachyavidya Pratishthan: This institution plays a key role in publishing ancient Indian literary works, particularly those related to Rajasthan's cultural heritage. Their "Rajasthan Puratan Granthamala" series is responsible for this edition of Kāvyaprakāśa.
• Manuscript Importance: The emphasis on palm-leaf manuscripts and the detailed comparison of various manuscript readings highlight the critical scholarly approach to preserving and understanding these ancient texts.

In essence, the provided pages represent a scholarly edition of Mammata's Kāvyaprakāśa, specifically focused on the earliest known commentary by Someśvara Bhatta (Kāvyādarśa Kāvyaprakāśa-samketa). It is part of a broader initiative by a Jain institution to preserve and disseminate ancient Indian knowledge, as evidenced by the extensive lists of digitized Jain and other traditional texts.