BHAGAVAN MAHAVIRAR MOOLBHOOT CHINTAN (Kannada)

tirthakarebhyostu syadvadibhyo namonamah

rshabhadimahavirantebhyo svatmopalabdhye

 

Dear friends,

Jaya Jinendra

 

I take great pride in introducing this book to you:

 

BHAGAVAN MAHAVIRAR MOOLBHOOT CHINTAN (Kannada)

By Dr. Jaykumar Jalaj

Translated into Kannada and edited by Mrs Indira Subraya Hegde

Prakrit Bharati Pushpa 164

Distributed and exported by Hindi Granth Karyalay

2006 215 x 140 mm 48 pp

Softcover Rs. 30

 

This book is a penetrating and concise presentation of the life and doctrine of Bhagavan Mahavira. It covers his early life, examining society as it was at the time of His birth. Jalaj succinctly explains Mahavira's teachings. He describes Mahavira's enriched vision, His concept of reality, the nature of His omniscience, the principals of syadvada and anekantavada, the concomitant relationship between nimitta and upadana and the art of living as visualized in the Jain religion.

 

It also sheds light on Mahavira's concepts of ahimsa and mercy. The Jain karma theory, the opposition to karmakanda, the 6 dravyas and 7 tattvas are all lucidly explained. The author has also explained how the basic thought of Mahavira is very appropriate to meet the challenges of a rapidly shrinking world.

 

Jain religion and the Kannada language have an ancient association going back to the times of Candragupta Maurya. This Kannada translation is an attempt to perpetuate this tradition.

 

The book was originally written in Hindi, and is into its 12th edition now and has been translated into several languages. This is the first Kannada edition. The Kannada tr. has been carried out by Mrs Indira Subraya Hegde, noted Kannada columnist, yoga trainer, astrologer and grandmother of two.

 

The book has been very attractively produced.

 

|| parasparopagraho jivanam ||

 

Manish

 

To order books please write to manish.modi@mtnl.net.in

 

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HINDI GRANTH KARYALAY

Booksellers and Publishers Since 1912

9 Hirabaug C P Tank

Mumbai 400004 INDIA

Phones: + 91 (022) 23826739, 20622600

Email: manishymodi@gmail.com

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RATNAKARANDA SRAVAKACARA (Sanskrit - Hindi)

namah sri varddhamanaya nirdhutakalilatmane

salokanam trilokanam yadvidya darpanayate

 

Dear friends,

Shubh Dipavali

Mangalamaya Nava Varsha ki shubhakamanayen!

 

RATNAKARANDA SRAVAKACARA (Sanskrit-Hindi)

By Acarya Samantabhadra

Translated into Hindi with 2 Appendices by Dr. Jaykumar Jalaj

Preface by Dr. Paul Dundas

Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 3

2006 215 x 140 mm 48 pp

ISBN 81-88769-04-5

EAN 9788188769049

Softcover Rs. 40

 

A feature of Jain scriptures is the importance accorded to the conduct of the laity. One of the first such works is Acarya Samantabhadra's "Ratnakaranda Sravakacara". Written in the early centuries of the Common Era, it is an enduring masterpiece prescribing normative lay conduct. Its style is terse and to the point.

 

If the Jain doctrine has survived for the past two millennia after the death of the last ford maker Tirthankara Mahavira despite great socio political-upheavals and the fluctuating fortunes of the Jain community, credit should go to the innate correctness and relevance of the Tirthankaras' teachings of which the Ratnakaranda Sravakacara is a splendid example.

 

The Ratnakaranda Sravakacara occupies a special and revered place in the hierarchy of Digambara scriptural tradition. It has been a defining authority on ideal Jain lay conduct for the past two millennia.

 

Comprising of 150 slokas, this work has ensured Samantabhadra's place in Jain history as it serves as an inspiration to Jains even today, more than two millennia after it was composed.

 

Since the study of the classical languages Sanskrit and Prakrit is not very prevalent in the Jain lay community today, the Jain community has largely learnt of the Ratnakaranda Sravakacara through sermons by the monks and learned lay Pandits.

 

More than once, the Ratnakaranda Sravakacara has been translated into Hindi in the 20th century. But the translations have tended to be so weighed down by the Sanskrit mulapatha and the communicative limitations of the translator, that very often the Hindi translation is well nigh incomprehensible to all but the scholars, who could read the work in its original Sanskrit.

 

There came a point in time wherein the Ratnakaranda Sravakacara was being read less and less by those whom it was written for ? the sravakas!

 

This translation is an attempt to rectify this situation. This is why we requested Dr. Jaykumar Jalaj, a best-selling poet, writer and an independent scholar of Jainism to translate afresh the Ratnakaranda Sravakacara. He has attempted to translate the mula Sanskrit slokas in lucid Hindi in a manner that will empower the layperson to read this great work on his/her own.

 

Jalaj has succeeded in producing a Hindi translation that is at once incisive, does not deviate from the original text is succinct and to the point.

 

Jalaj does not try to dazzle his readers with difficult tatsama words or by needlessly launching into great detours from the text to showcase his own views.

 

He does not come in the way of Acarya Samantabhadra and his 21^st century readers. He is merely a facilitator between them.

 

This edition boasts of a brilliant Preface by Dr. Paul Dundas, the famed Scottish Indologist and leading authority on Prakrit, Sanskrit and Jainism.

 

The book is helped by impeccable proof reading and immaculate production values. For which, the publisher would like to express his sincere thanks to Shri Girish Jani, Sahityacarya who patiently went through all the proofs.

 

The book also has two appendices, including an alphabetical Slokanukramanika.

 

Truly a path breaking venture, it is hoped that this book will revitalise the tradition svadhyaya by the members of the lay community.

 

The Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series has been named after Pandit Nathuramji Premi, a deeply insightful scholar of Jainism; perceptive critic of Indian literature and history; the Bhishma Pitamah of Hindi publishing and pioneering publisher and editor of Jain sacred literature.

 

This series aims to bring out accurate, well researched scholarly studies or translations of classic Jain works in Prakrit / Sanskrit. This series will attempt to present the most important Jain scriptures in modern languages ensuring at all times immaculate proof reading and excellent production values.

 

Forthcoming in this series: Acarya Pujyapada's "Samadhitantra" and the "Vyavahara Bhasya" ed. by Prof. Willem Bolle

 

vidusamanucaro,

Manish

 

HINDI GRANTH KARYALAY

Booksellers and Publishers Since 1912

9 Hirabaug C P Tank

Mumbai 400004 INDIA

Phones: + 91 (022) 23826739, 20622600

Email: <manishymodi@gmail.com>

Web: http://www.hindibooks.8m.com

Blog: http://hindigranthkaryalay.blogspot.com

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Yahoogroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JainandIndology