Bibliotheca Jainica

Summary

This section of the journal, entitled “Bibliotheca Jainica,” surveys important Jain texts. It begins with the **Ādi Purāṇa**, a 9th‑century epic by Jinasena that narrates the life of the first Tīrthaṅkara, Rishabhanatha; the poem recounts the struggle between brothers Bharata and Bahubali and stresses that all men are equal by birthhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80di_pur%C4%81%E1%B9%87a#:~:text=%C4%80di%20pur%C4%81%E1%B9%87a%20is%20a%209th,the%20first%20%2085. The survey mentions the **Jainendra‑vyākaraṇa**, a Sanskrit grammar by the 5th‑century scholar Pujyapāda Devanandin. Modelled on Pāṇini’s Aṣṭādhyāyī but omitting Vedic accents, the grammar exists in versions of about 3,000 or 3,700 sūtras, and its principal commentary is the *Mahāvṛtti* by Abhayanandinhttps://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/jainendravyakarana#:~:text=Jainendravy%C4%81kara%E1%B9%87a%20%28%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%29,Jainendra%20Vyakarana%2C%20introduction%20published%20by. Another entry is **Jaina Tarka Bhāṣā** by Yaśovijaya. Yaśovijaya studied logic in Kāśī in the 17th century and wrote nearly 100 works; sixteen deal with Jaina logic and emphasise themes such as soul, emancipation, non‑absolutism and space and timehttps://jainqq.org/explore/022374/21. The bibliography highlights **Pañcastikāya‑sāra**, an ancient Prakrit treatise by Ācārya Kundakunda that expounds the five āstikāyas (soul, matter, medium of motion, medium of rest and space) and explains Jain ethics in 180 verseshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancastikayasara#:~:text=Pa%C3%B1c%C4%81stik%C4%81yas%C4%81ra%20%28,existence%20as%20well%20as%20body. It also describes **Prākṛta‑sarvasva**, a 16th‑century grammar compiled by Markandeya under King Mukundadeva; later scholars produced critical editions that illuminated Markandeya’s life and the complexity of Prakrit grammarhttps://jainqq.org/booktext/Prakritsarvaswam_Romanized/001369. The section covers other texts such as **Anekāntajayapatākā** and **Dvādasa‑nāyakacakra**, introducing readers to their themes and editions. In addition to scriptural works, the survey lists general books on Jain philosophy, ethics, history and art. By summarising the contents, editions and historical context of these works, “Bibliotheca Jainica” aims to guide scholars and lay readers in selecting resources for further study. The survey illustrates the richness of Jain literature and underscores the importance of preserving and critically editing texts to understand the evolution of Jain thought. It encourages readers to engage with primary sources and thereby appreciate the diversity and depth of Jain intellectual heritage.