Study of Jainism

I am glad to know that one more book entitled "Study of Jainism" by Dr. T. G. Kalghatgi, Professor and Head, Department of Jainology, University of Madras, is being published by Prakrit Bharati Academy, Jaipur.

Dr. Kalghatgi is an eminent scholar of Jainism, Jaina Philosophy and Psychology and he is well-versed in Indian Philosophy. He has written many books on Jainism and on Philosophy and Psychology, of very high international standards. The books have been well received in this world of scholarship both in India and abroad.

This book is in two parts. The first part is mainly historical and Dr. T. G. Kalghatgi begins the study with an extensive outline of the History of Jainism giving the life and teachings of Rsabha Tirthankara and also brief study of other tirthankaras. He has also introduced a chapter on Mahavira's life and teaching. In this he has seen to it that mythological aspect of the life stories of tirthankaras is not mentioned. He has been, as far as possible, faithful to the historical aspects of the Jaina studies.

In the second part, he has discussed philosophical aspect of Jainism like Jaina Logic, Jaina Epistemology and Jaina Metaphysics. His interpretation of Jaina logic of Anekanta and Syadvada is quite modern. He has given a comparative study of many modern philosophers including the recent eminent philosophers like Bertrand Russell, Alexander and others.

In discussion of Jaina Ethics, he has given modern interpretation of the Concept of Ahimsa and its applications to the modern world.

The book is a great contribution to the Jaina Literature and I hope it will be very well received and studied by the scholars of Jainism.

Jainism is a Pre-Aryan religion. It belongs to the Sramana current of thought. As a religion Jainism leads us, like kindly light, from darkness towards the light of enlightenment and perfection of the self through self-effort and not through the surrender to or the grace of any higher deity. The Jainist interpretation of the dictum Tat Tvam Asi would say : you are the God-the divinity and no higher being is needed. As a philosophy it is realistic. It is empiricist in approach. Synoptic in outlook and analytic and dialectal in methodology.

So far Jainism was studied from the slanted angle of the Vedic scholars and the Brahminical way of thought. I do believe that it is now necessary to look afresh at the Jaina religion and philosophy from the perspective of history and proto-history and from the synoptic point of view. And I have made this humble attempt of presenting Jaina religion and Philosophy in the synopti presentation in this work; 'STUDY OF JAINISM'. There are two parts in this work. In Part I, I have given a brief survey of the beginnings and the development of Jaina religion with reference to the lives and teachings of the Tirthankaras (prophets). In presenting the lives of the Tirthankaras, I have, as far as possible, avoided to present the mythological content in their lives, In Part II, I have presented, to the extent possible, a synoptic picture of the Philosophical problems of Jainism. I have looked at the problems from the detached philosophical point of view. But philosophy is not mere academic pursuit but a view of life "to see life steadily and to see it whole". And mine is a Jaina view of life.

I am grateful to the Prakrit Bharati Academy, Jaipur, for getting this book to see the light of the day. The Prakrit Bharati Academy has published this book. I am specially grateful to Sri. D.R. Mehta and Sri. Vinayasagarji for giving me all encouragement in this work. I am also grateful to Sri. N. Vasupal, M.A., Ph.D , Lecturer, Department of Jainology, University of Madras, for going through the proofs. I thank Selvi G. Shyama, Steno typist in the Department of Jainology, University of Madras, for assisting me in getting some pages typed. I thank the Research Foundation for Jainology in Madras and its organizers Sri. S. Sripal, IAS., Inspector General of prisons, Tamil Nadu, Sri. Surendrabhai Mehta and Sri. S. Krishnachand Chordia for their constant encouragement in getting this work completed in time. I am grateful to Sri. S. Sripal, I.P.S., for writing the foreword to the book.

I am grateful to my wife Smt. Laxmidevi Kalghatgi for giving me encouragement and inspiration for writing this book. She has been giving suggestion off and on and the work in this form is due to her.

I am extremely grateful to Sri P. H. Viswanathan, Manager, Balussery Printing Press and the workers of Balussery Printing Press, Madras for completing the work in a very short span of time.