Vishva Ma Sau Pratham Jain Agam No Gujarati Anuvad

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Gujarati text, translated into English, focusing on the key achievements and significance of Muni Deepratnasagarji's work:

Book Title: Vishva ma Sau Pratham Jain Agam no Gujarati Anuvad (The World's First Gujarati Translation of Jain Agamas) Author: Muni Deepratnasagar (also referred to as Dipratnasagar, Deepratnasagar) Publisher: Divya Bhaskar Newspaper Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/249546/1

This article, published in Divya Bhaskar Newspaper on August 5, 2004, highlights a monumental achievement for the Gujarati language and the Jain faith: the world's first Gujarati translation and comprehensive commentary of the Jain Agamas by Muni Deepratnasagar.

Key Accomplishments and Significance:

• Unprecedented Translation Effort: Muni Deepratnasagar has undertaken the immense task of translating and elaborating on the Jain Agamas, which are ancient and complex religious scriptures. This work is described as the "world's first Gujarati translation of Jain Agamas."
• Vast Scope: The project encompasses the translation of 45 Agamas and 12 Upangas, along with numerous commentaries (Niryukti, Bhashya, Churni, Vrutti), and over 187 illustrative stories (Drishtantos).
• Massive Volume: The compiled work is a colossal collection of 48 books, spanning approximately 10,000 pages. It includes the original sutras in ancient Prakrit and Sanskrit languages, their Gujarati translations, and detailed commentaries.
• Dedication and Sacrifice: Muni Deepratnasagar has dedicated three and a half years of continuous day and night effort to this scholarly pursuit. This is described as a "fruit of a year of uninterrupted knowledge pursuit."
• Beyond Agamas: In addition to the core Agamas, the Muni has also published 51 other books, totaling 301 books published single-handedly. These include works on various aspects of Jainism, such as rituals (Agam Mahipoojan Vidhi), comparative studies with other scriptures like the Gita, Ramayana, Vedas, Upanishads, Quran, and Bible. He has also published a comprehensive Gujarati-English Jain dictionary.
• Scholarly Depth: The translation is not merely a literal rendering but includes meticulous commentaries and analyses. The original sutras are presented in italics, with their commentaries in normal type for clarity. The work also explains the distinction between sutras and their commentaries.
• Preservation of Knowledge: The article notes the declining number of scholars proficient in these ancient languages and commentaries. Muni Deepratnasagar's work is crucial for preserving and making accessible this vast Jain knowledge to the Gujarati-speaking community.
• Impact on Gujarati Jain Literature: This endeavor is hailed as a "very proud event for Gujarati language and Jain Shasan" and a "very valuable contribution to Gujarati Jain literature."
• Practical Aspects: The compiled set of books weighs a significant 16.5 kilograms, underscoring the scale of the project. The clear formatting allows for easy differentiation between original sutras and their Gujarati translations and commentaries.
• Vast Katha Sahitya: The Agamas contain an immense amount of narrative literature (katha sahitya), estimated to be around 36,000 pages of stories, and the Muni's work has encompassed this extensive storytelling tradition.

In essence, this article celebrates Muni Deepratnasagar's extraordinary dedication and scholarly prowess in bringing the profound and ancient Jain Agamas to the Gujarati-speaking world in an accessible and comprehensive manner, a feat described as a landmark event in religious scholarship and linguistic contribution.