Books on Jainology

Summary

The ‘Books on Jainology’ page recommends major works for serious students. Karpura Chandra (Cidananda)’s “Sarva Saṃgraha” (Sri Buddhi Vriddhi Karpura Granthamala No. 12) compiles devotional and philosophical verses. Part I, “Bahottarī,” gathers seventy‑two verses summarising Jaina doctrines, while Part II reproduces poems such as “Pudgal Gītā,” “Adhyātma Bāvā‑nī Duhā,” “Dayā Chatrīs,” “Paramātmā Chatrīs,” and “Svarodaya Jñāna,” concluding with a question‑and‑answer garland. Two editions of Mallisena’s “Syādvāda‑mañjarī” follow. The Bombay Sanskrit and Prakrit Series edition (edited by A.B. Dhruva, 1933) and the Raicandra Jain Sastramala edition (edited by Jawaharlal Shastri, 1910) both include Hemacandra’s “Anyayogavyavacchedadvātrimśikā” and provide introductions, notes and, in the latter, a Hindi translation. These works are foundational expositions of the doctrine of conditional predication (syādvāda) and serve students of Jaina logic and epistemology. The page concludes with Muni Nyāyavijaya’s encyclopaedic “Jain Darśan” (Hindi), translated from Gujarati by Shantilal Manilal. This book introduces Jaina philosophy through multiple parts: it explains the nine tattvas, eight karmas, kinds of bondage and methods of nirjarā; outlines the path to liberation including duties of monks and laymen, stages of spiritual progress, types of knowledge and meditative practices; discusses miscellaneous topics like deva, guru, dharma, non‑violence, compassion and charity; analyses karma comprehensively; and elaborates logical doctrines such as pramāṇa, syādvāda/anekāntavāda, saptabhaṅgī and nayas. A concluding section presents Jainism as a universal and rational faith. Collectively these recommendations span devotional compilations, technical treatises and comprehensive introductions, offering readers the tools to delve deeply into Jaina metaphysics, ethics and logic.