Catalogue of Sanskrit and Prakrit Manuscripts- Jaichandji Upadhyaya Collection, Bikaner Vol.1 Part- XXIII (An Old and Rare Book)

Preface Among the Jain scholars of Bikaner with a peculiar knack for the collection of manuscripts, the name of Upadhyaya Jaichand deserves special mention. This collection owes much to Upadhyaya Laxmi Pradhan Gani, seventh in descent in the lineage of Upadhyaya Udaitilak of the Vrihat Khartargaccha sect. Udaitilakji was held in great respect both by the rulers and the public of the Bikaner state.

Upadhyaya Jaichand spent lavishly on acquiring manuscripts to raise this collection so much so that he paid exorbitantly for a palm-leaf manuscript named `Rajaprasniya Sutra' (accn. no. 1342) supposed to belong to the 13th century or so. It is said of him that he gave up his food when he found this palm-leaf manuscript missing in his collection. However he got it back. He also had the gift of the gab.

Mahopadhyaya Yati Panna lal and Yati Pandit Palchandji did signal service to Oriental scholarship by donating this valuable collection to the Institute on the advice of the late Sri Poojya Jina Vijayendra Suri.

The present volume accommodates some 1594 works falling between accession number 18448-20749.

A word for the quality of manuscripts. There are a good number belonging to the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. Illustrated copies of the Travachan Saroddhar' (18605), `Kalikacharya Katha' (18684), 'Push-pamalopadesh mala' (18979), `Saraswat Prakriya' (19148), `Kalikacharya Katha' (19511), `Jina Shatak' (20446) and the `Surya Sahasranama' (20467) enhance the value of this collection. Old copies of some of the well-known manuscripts are much more in number as a thorough perusal of the Catalogue would reveal. Very often these ancient copies provide enough scope for textual exercises.

Besides the joint-editors, Shri Krishna Lal Bishnoi and Dr. Smt. Usha Goswami, our surveyors also have a share in finalising the press-copy and doing other table-work of academic nature. They all deserve a word of praise. The credit of printing the catalogue goes to the Manager of the Himalaya Printers, Jodhpur. For errors of omission and proof-reading I crave the indulgence of the readers.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages