Studies In Jainology Prakrit Literature and Languages (A Collection of Select 51 Papers)

I had, before retirement, planned to bring out in the form of a book a collection of my Research Papers, most of which were presented at several Conferences, Seminars, Symposiums, Academies etc. and published in the various Journals, Commemoration Volumes, Felicitation Volumes, Research Bulletins, Souvenirs, etc. But the weight of the then existing responsibilities on me at the Jaina Pitha in Karnataka University did not spare for me that kind of patience and leisure-time required for that work. After retirement, too, owing to other commitments, undertakings, health-hazards etc., such a plan lingered on unrealised. A few months ago, as I was rearranging my personal library at home, some off-prints of my published papers were found to have been nearly spoiled by mice. This created in my mind a sort of anxiety as to when, or whether, I could realize the dream of my plan? This anxiety grew rather intensive by my conviction of the fact that unfortunately we have no such liberal Institutions or Foundations like the Glasenapp Stiftung (Germany) that posthumously brought out recently a valuable collection of Dr.Alsdorf's papers in a single volume, the 10th in its series viz., Ludwig Alsdorf: Kleine Schriften, as nicely edited by Albrecht Wezler (Wiesbadon, 1974). And such conviction is based on my first hand knowledge of two unpleasant examples : In spite of some efforts by a few individuals and associations, a collection of Dr. A.N.Upadhye's more than 150 learned research papers (in English) did not come out until now. Similar is the case of the collection of Dr. Hiralal Jain's learned research papers (in Hindi), not in a small number. Hence, I decided to give first preference to this plan and set myself to work it out at this age - nearly a decade after retirement.

Finding and sorting out available off-prints of papers, searching out some Journals, Commemoration and Felicitation Volumes, Souvenirs, etc., that did not provide off-prints of those respective papers, getting their typed or xerox copies, tracing out typescripts or manuscripts of a few papers that were long back sent for some Commemoration and Felicitation Volumes which had not come out as yet - was all a cumbersome job for a retired life. Managing all this single handedly and listing down the titles of all papers produced during the course of more than three decades - which amounted to 110 in English, 10 in Kannada and 2 in Prakrit some 51 in English were selected and brought under the general title, "Studies in Jainoiogy Prakrit Literature and Languages'.

But arranging the selected papers in the serial order was found quite problematic. Neither the chronological order of the papers nor their topic wise classified order was possible. Because the wide range and scope of Jainology and Prakrit languages and literature, or Prakrit languages and literature in relation to Old Kannada language and literature, stand almost inseparable. So some general convenient method had to be followed : Papers related to Jain religion, philosophy, ethics, history, cosmography, yoga and contribution of Jainism to some aspects of Indian culture in general and South Indian culture in particular, etc., were arranged in somewhat arbitrary serial order; and then papers connected with Prakrit languages and literature in relation to Kannada language and literature and their mutual influence, particularly of linguistic, literary and lexical nature were taken next in continued serial order. Two papers - Nos. 36 and 37, which form two Chapters in my book Vaddaradhane : A Study, were made to replace other ones, with the objective of bringing the important aspects of the influence of Prakrit Language and literature on Old Kannada language and literature in one place, as the Vaddaracdhane happens to be the earliest available (c.925 A.D.) Jain Classic in Kannada prose. The last but two papers (No:48), however, may be said to represent partly my tribute to Prof. Albrecht Weber and partly my novel experiment in rendering some randomly chosen beautiful Prakrit lyrical verses stored in the unique ancient Indian anthology viz., the Gahasattasai.