Sagarmal Jain Abhinandan Granth - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Sagarmal Jain Abhinandan Granth," based on the scanned pages:

Book Title: Sagarmal Jain Abhinandan Granth Author(s): Shreeprakash Pandey (Managing Editor) Publisher: Parshvanath Vidyapith, Varanasi Publication Year: 1998 Series: Parshvanath Vidyapith Series No. 106, Aspects of Jainology Vol. VI

Overall Purpose: This book is a felicitation volume (Abhinandan Granth) dedicated to Dr. Sagarmal Jain, a prominent scholar of Jainology. It is a compilation of significant articles authored by Dr. Sagarmal Jain himself, covering various aspects of Jainology. The publication by Parshvanath Vidyapith aims to honor his extensive contributions to Jain studies.

Key Highlights and Content:

Tribute to Dr. Sagarmal Jain: The entire work is a tribute to Dr. Sagarmal Jain, recognizing his profound scholarship and dedication to Jainology. The book includes blessings, congratulatory messages, and personal reflections from various prominent figures in the Jain community and academia, highlighting his multifaceted personality, academic achievements, and social contributions.
Structure of the Book: The book is divided into seven volumes (Khanda), each dedicated to a specific area of Jainology. This structure allows for a comprehensive and organized presentation of Dr. Sagarmal Jain's diverse writings.
- Volume 1: Biography, Personality, and Works Evaluation: This volume focuses on Dr. Sagarmal Jain's life, his personality, and an assessment of his contributions to Jainology. It details his birth, childhood, education (including balancing studies with business), marriage, family life, social and religious activities, and his impactful career, particularly his directorship at Parshvanath Vidyashram. It also touches upon his personal qualities like simplicity, humility, and integrity, citing his commitment to Jainism and his extensive travels abroad to represent Jainology.
- Volume 2: Jain Agam Literature: This volume likely compiles Dr. Jain's articles related to the study of Jain Agam literature, exploring its origins, development, and the significance of various texts.
- Volume 3: Philosophy: This volume is dedicated to Dr. Jain's philosophical contributions, likely covering topics such as the nature of 'Satt' (Existence), the concepts of 'Dravya, Guna, and Parya'y', the five Astikayas and six Dravyas, various soul theories prevalent during Mahavir's time and the uniqueness of Jain soul theory, the concept of the soul, classification issues in Shat-Jeev-Nikay, the concept of Pudgal and atoms, the validity of knowledge and truthfulness of statements in Jain philosophy, Syadvada and Saptabhangi, the role of logic and proof in Jain philosophy, value philosophy and Purusharth Chaturthaya, Jain educational philosophy, the Jain Karma theory, and critiques of other philosophical systems like Charvaka and Advaita from a Jain perspective. It also includes a critique of Rahul Sankrityayan's views on Jainism.
- Volume 4: Ethics and Morality: This volume likely contains Dr. Jain's essays on Jain ethics, its psychological foundations, moral paradigms, the variability of moral values, eternal standards of conduct in Jainism, the subject of moral evaluation, the nature of moral and religious duty, the paths of Utarga and Apavada in Jain ethics, penance and punishment systems, humanistic principles of ethics, the question of nudity and decency in Jainism, the social relevance of Jain ethical philosophy, the concept of Ahimsa (non-violence), a comparative study of Ahimsa, Mahavir's concept of Aparigraha (non-possession), and the relevance of Shravak (lay follower) conduct.
- Volume 5: Religion and Sadhana (Spiritual Practice): This volume delves into the core tenets of Jainism, the relationship between spirituality and science, the essence of religion from a Jain perspective, religious tolerance in Jainism, the psychological basis of Jain practices, the power of the mind, the concept of Moksha (liberation), the possibility of liberation for women, other religious traditions, and naked ascetics, the path of tri-fold sadhana, Bhed-Gyan (discrimination) as the gateway to liberation, Samadhi-maran (contemplative death), its comparative study, the concept and place of Swadhyaya (self-study), the concept of Bhakti (devotion) in Jainism, and the foundation of Jain Sadhana-Samyagdarshan (Right Faith). It also covers meditation, Tantra Sadhana and Jain perspective, worship rituals and religious observances, the place of Pranava (Om), the relationship between Sadhana and social service, and festivals like Paryushana and Dashalakshana.
- Volume 6: Society and Culture: This volume likely explores Dr. Jain's writings on Jain society and culture, including the integrated form of Indian culture, social consciousness in Indian philosophy, social thought in Jainism, social equality, the role of women in Jainism, Sati-pratha and Jainism, the question of self-interest versus public interest in Jainism and Buddhism, the environmental pollution problem and Jainism, and the question of Jain unity.
- Volume 7: Tradition and History: This volume compiles articles on Jain tradition and history, such as the development and mutual influence of Shraman and Vedic traditions, Jain history from historical perspectives, methodologies and sources for studying Jain history, the Yāpanīya sect, the origin of the Uchhairnāgara branch and identification of Umaswati's birthplace, the Shvetambara Mulasangha and Mathursangha, Bahubali in Jain tradition, Ramkatha in Shvetambara tradition, Acharya Siddhasen Divakar, Acharya Haribhadra, Acharya Hemchandra, Jatāsimha Nandi's Varāṁgacharita, the concept of Tirtha in Jainism, the language of Ashoka's inscriptions, stupas in Jain Agam religion, Emperor Akbar and Jainism, and the syncretic and tolerant perspective of Jain Acharyas in Khajuraho art.
- English Section: The book also includes a section with articles in English, covering topics like Jaina Literature, Origin and Development of Jainism, Historical Development of Jaina Philosophy and Religion, Brahmanic & Sramanaic Culture (comparative study), Samatva Yoga, Jaina's concept of Peace, Religious Harmony, The solution of World problems from a Jaina perspective, The concept of non-violence, The role of parents, teachers and society in instilling cultural values, Equanimity and Meditation, The concept of Vibhajjavada and its impact on Philosophical & Religious tolerance in Buddhism and Jainism, The teachings of Arhat Parsva & distinctness of His sect, The date of Nirvana of Lord Mahavira, and Prof. K.S. Murthy's Philosophy of Peace and Non-violence.
Contributions: The volume is a compilation of Dr. Sagarmal Jain's "important articles," showcasing his extensive research and deep understanding of Jain principles, philosophy, ethics, history, and culture. The extensive bibliography (Grana-Pranayan) at the end lists his numerous books and booklets, highlighting his prolific writing career.
Editorial and Consultative Committees: The book lists a distinguished consultative and editorial board comprising renowned scholars in Jainology, ensuring the academic rigor and quality of the publication.
Publisher and Series: Published by Parshvanath Vidyapith, Varanasi, as part of their "Parshvanath Vidyapith Series No. 106" and "Aspects of Jainology Vol. VI," it signifies the institution's commitment to promoting Jain studies.

In essence, the Sagarmal Jain Abhinandan Granth is a monumental work that serves as a comprehensive repository of Dr. Sagarmal Jain's scholarly output, contributing significantly to the field of Jainology and providing invaluable resources for researchers, students, and enthusiasts of Jainism.