PROLEGOMENA TO PRAKRITICA et JAINICA

The present monograph under the caption Prolegomena to Prakritica et Jainica is being published by the Asiatic Society on the occasion of a National Seminar on Prakrit and Jainism organized by the Asiatic Society to be held on he 11th and 12th of March 2005. It is a historic event in the annals of the Society that it is for the first time the said Society is holding a National Seminar on Jainism was not at all unknown, because many articles and papers on Jainism were published in the Asiatick Researchers and also in its Journal from its very inception, along with texts on Jaina Agamas, there was no occasion when a Jain Seminar was ever contemplated. It is therefore quite in the fitness of things that after a lapse of 222 years, the present Council, particularly the President, Professor Biswananth Banerjee, thought it prudent to hold a national Seminar on Jainism- a subject which has been living in the realm of sad and doleful neglect for centuries more in the eastern part of India. As far as history is concerned, it should be borne in mind that Bengal was a champion of Jainism from her hoary antiquity. It is a fact worth noting that 2600 years ago, Vardhaman Mahavira came to Bengal known as Radha-desa at that time, to preach his doctrine, and this event was recorded in the second part of the Acaranga-sutra which is one of the oldest Agama texts of the Jains. And some of the historians opine that name of the Railway station Bardhaman in West Bengal is due to his visit to that place. However, it is not the place to dilate upon the history of Jainism in Bengal, but, it could be reckoned at the same time that Bengal was not a place where Jainism was quite unknown. But rather unfortunately, Jainism in Bengal was for long relegated to the land of oblivion in the contemplation of a polypus.

Keeping in mind the thrust areas of this seminar which include the Prakrit language, literature and Jain philosophy, a monograph which is a collection of articles is prepared according to the need of the Seminar. It has three parts. In Part I, some basic notions of the Prakrit language are given. In part II, some basic historical events are culled out from some recognized and illustrious authors who have laboured much to unfurl the hidden treasures of Jain history. Some of the knotty problems of Jainism which are seldom discussed in ordinary books are also amalgamated here to give emphasis on those themes which will draw the attention of scholars. The part III deals with Jain literature in a chronological order which will help the scholars to write the history of Jainism. The entire gamut of this corpus is written on the basis of the notion that the Prakrit language and literature are the integral parts of Jainistic studies.

This monograph is made on themes. A peep into the contents will demonstrate the truth of this assertion. In editing this corpus I have to follow a little editorial discipline. In some articles proper names are printed "all-cap", such as PISCHEL, in the main body of the text, but to maintain parity with other avoided "all-cap" system is not followed, I have avoided "all-cap" in a name and made them normal. The older spellings of some names, such as, Catrunjaya, are kept as they are and have not been tampered with recent spelling as is normally done in the books of Indology. For historical reasons, this so-called older spelling is not crushed down on the plea of reformation and modernization. Similarly in some cases some older diacritical marks are kept as they are for the sake of history, but, otherwise, normal diacritical marks are followed. Save and except this very insignificant minor editorial discipline, all the articles are printed as they are.

in fine I should say that I must thank the President and the General Secretary who have urged me to prepare this monograph befitting the climatic condition of the Seminar. If this monograph stimulates the scholars interested in the subject, I shall deem may labour amply rewarded.

Satya Ranjan Banerjee
Library Secretary
The Asiatic Society

1 March 2005

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