Books Received

Summary

The ‘Books Received’ section reviews several recent publications that contribute to the study of Jain history; literature and philosophy. Mangilal Bhutoria’s Itihās‑kī Amar Bel Oswāl (vol. 1; Priyadarshi Prakashan; Calcutta; 1988) narrates the history of the Oswal Jain community from prehistoric times to the modern period. Drawing on archaeological evidence; legends and community records; it traces the origins of the Oswals; their migrations across Rajasthan and Gujarat; and their contributions to trade; philanthropy and Jain religious life. The volume of 440 pages is written in Hindi and aims to make historical material accessible to a broad readership. Rishabhachandra Jain Fozdar’s Jaina Siddhānta Bhavan Granthāvalī (vol. 1; Sri Devkumar Jain Oriental Library; Arrah; 1987) is a catalogue of manuscripts housed in the Devkumar Jain Oriental Library. The volume lists Sanskrit; Prakrit; Apabhramsha and Hindi manuscripts with accession numbers; titles; authors’ names; scripts; languages; sizes and dates. An appendix reproduces the opening and closing ślokas and colophons of each manuscript; providing invaluable data for scholars seeking primary sources on Jain doctrine; literature and rituals. At 169 + 328 pages; it represents a major resource for manuscript studies and underscores the importance of regional libraries in preserving Jain heritage. S. T. Nimkar’s Kouhala’s Līlāvai‑kaha (Prakrit Vidya Mandal and Prakrit Jain Vidya Vikas Fund; Ahmedabad; 1988) offers an English translation of the medieval Prakrit romance Līlāvai‑kaha. The tale; composed by Kouhala; narrates the love story of Prince Kuṇḍamāṇikya and Princess Līlāvatī against a backdrop of moral and philosophical reflections. Nimkar’s translation includes an introduction on the work’s place in Jain narrative literature and provides notes on linguistic and cultural aspects; making this text accessible to non‑Prakrit readers. Another philosophical work listed is Sadhvi Jalakshmisri’s Philosophy of Sādhanā in Jainism (Gangabai Narshi Dand; Malkapur; 1987); which analyses Jain sādhanā (spiritual practice) in relation to Buddhist; Vedantic and Patañjala Yoga systems. Jalakshmisri examines ethical precepts; meditation techniques; and the roles of asceticism and lay practice; highlighting the distinctiveness of Jain approaches to liberation. Sadhvi Surekhasri’s Jain Darśan‑me Samyaktva‑kā Svarūp (Vicakshan Smriti Prakashan; Jaipur; 1988) investigates the concept of samyaktva; or right faith; across the history of Jain thought. The author traces doctrinal discussions on samyaktva from early canonical texts through medieval commentaries and assesses its relevance for contemporary practitioners. The 382‑page Hindi monograph includes extensive references and serves as a valuable tool for scholars and lay readers interested in ethics and epistemology. Mavji K. Savla’s edited volume Samvāḍ‑ne Sthvāre (Author; Gandhidham; 1988) compiles excerpts from personal correspondence written during 1986. Although brief (128 pages); it offers insight into everyday discourse among Jain community members in Gujarati and reveals how personal letters can serve as historical documents. Finally; Ramanlal C. Shah’s Jintattva; part 2 (Sri Bombay Jain Yuvak Sangh; 1988) is a Gujarati collection of essays on Jain doctrine and practice. The 146‑page volume contains articles on topics such as lānchana (symbols); prabhāvanā (preaching); pariṣā (minor vows); upāsarga (afflictions); keśloc (hair‑plucking); labdhī (extraordinary abilities) and samavasaraṇa (Tirthaṅkara’s preaching hall); as well as discussions of vegetarianism and a Jain view of Mallinātha; the nineteenth Tirthaṅkara. Together these books span historical narrative; catalogue; translation; philosophical analysis and practical guidance; illustrating the breadth of contemporary Jain scholarship in Hindi; Gujarati; Sanskrit and Prakrit.