A list of the publications by the Manikchandra Jaina Granthamala, Mumbai, (1915 - 1958)

[Guest guest]

na hi jñanena sadrisam pavitramiha vidyate

 

MANIKACHANDRA JAINAGRANTHAMALA, MUMBAI

 

This was a series publishing critical editions of canonical,

philosophical, historical, literary, narative etc. works of Jaina literature

in Prakrit, Sanskrit and Apabhramsa.

 

This series commenced in 1915.

It was published by Pandit Nathuramji Premi.

The series was funded in the memory of the Jain philanthropist Seth

Manikachandra Hirachandra, Justice of Peace Bombay; by his family.

 

Here is a list of some of the prestigious publications of

Manikchandra JainaGranthamala. The sequence of information is:

Publication Serial No.; Title; Additional Information;

the subject matter is written in brackets.

 

Serial no. 1 = Laghiyastrayadisangraha (Logic)

 

Serial no. 2 = Sagaradharmamrta Satika (Code of conduct)

 

Serial no. 3 = Vikrantakaurava (Drama)

 

Serial no. 4 = Parsvanathacarita (Poetry)

 

Serial no. 5 = Maithilikalyana (Drama)

 

Serial no. 6 = Aradhanasara (Spirituality)

 

Serial no. 7 = Jinadattacarita (Poetry)

 

Serial no. 8 = Pradyumnacarita (Poetry)

 

Serial no. 9 = Caritrasara (Code of conduct)

 

Serial no.10 = Pramananirnaya (Logic)

 

Serial no.11 = Acarasara (Code of conduct)

 

Serial no.12 = Trilokasara Satika (Cosmology)

 

Serial no.13 = Tattvanusasanadisangraha (Philosophy)

 

Serial no.14 = Anagaradharmamrta Satika (Code of conduct)

 

Serial no.15 = Yuktyanusasana (Logic)

 

Serial no.16 = Nayacakrasangraha (Philosophy / Logic)

 

Serial no.17 = Satprabhrtadisangraha (Philosophy / Code of conduct)

 

Serial no.18 = Prayascittasangraha (Code of conduct)

 

Serial no.19 = Mulacara Satika Purvardha (Code of conduct)

 

Serial no.20 = Bhavasangrahadi (Spirituality)

 

Serial no.21 = Siddhantasaradisangraha (Philosophy)

 

Serial no.22 = Nitivakyamrta Satika (Polity)

 

Serial no.23 = Mulacara Satika Uttarardha (Code of conduct)

 

Serial no.24 = Ratnakaranda Sravakacara (Code of conduct)

 

Serial no.25 = Pancasangraha (Philosophy / Spirituality)

 

Serial no.26 = Latisamhita (Philosophy / Code of conduct)

 

Serial no.27 = Purudevacampu (Biography)

 

Serial no.28 = Jaina Silalekha Sangraha (Collection of Inscriptions)

 

Serial no.29 = Padmacarita {Padmapurana} Volume 1 (Biography)

 

Serial no.30 = Padmacarita {Padmapurana} Volume 2 (Biography)

 

Serial no.31 = Padmacarita {Padmapurana} Volume 3 (Biography)

 

Serial no.32 = Harivamsapurana Volume 1 (Biography)

 

Serial no.33 = Harivamsapurana Volume 2 (Biography)

 

Serial no.34 = Nitivakyamrta Parisista Satika (Polity)

 

Serial no.35 = Jambusvamicarita (Poetry)

 

Serial no.36 = Trisasthismrtisastra (with Marathi critique)

 

Serial no.37 = Mahapurana Volume 1 (Biography)

 

Serial no.38 = Nyayakumudacandra Volume 1 {Bhasya on

Akalanka's Laghiyastraya}(Logic)

 

Serial no.39 = Nyayakumudacandra Volume 2 {Bhasya on

Akalanka's Laghiyastraya}(Logic)

 

Serial no.40 = Varangacarita (Poetry) (Biography)

 

Serial no.41 = Mahapurana Volume 2 (Biography)

 

--

Note: Information taken from Nyayakumudacandra Vol. 2 page 930.

 

The series published some of the most important and valuable

Digambara Jaina works, and even today its publications are considered

as benchmarks in Indological publishing.

 

The series existed in the lifetime of Pandit Nathuramji Premi. He

started it in 1915, and in the late 1950's in failing health, he

proposed handing over the publishing of the series to someone

else. Eventually, the series was handed over to Bharatiya Jñanapitha,

Varanasi. After that, the series came to a halt.

None of its books are available today. Even getting photocopies of

all the books is difficult in India. A great treasure has been lost

through neglect and modern man's apathy towards jñana.

 

N.B. This email was only to convey information, not for selling any books.

 

Pandit Nathuramji Premi worked on an honorary basis as the

publisher of the Manikchandra JainaGranthamala all his life.

 

After his death in 30/01/1960, there was a hiatus in Jain publishing,

particularly Digambara Jaina publishing.

 

While the Digambaras were the first off the block with their first

publishing series on their canonical literature in 1905, with the

Sanatana Jaina Granthamala, one finds that today there is a serious

shortage of academic Digambara Jaina publications.

 

There is almost no fresh academic work being done, and whatever

little work is being done is not of the same caliber.

 

With the passing away of the Digambara giants, Pt. Gopaldas

Baraiya, Pt. Devakinandanji, Pt. Nathuramji Premi, Prof. Hiralalji

Jain, Prof. A.N. Upadhyeji, Dr. Mahendrakumarji Nyayacarya,

Pt. Phoolachandraji, Pt. Kailashachandraji, Pt. Balchandraji, Pt. Hiralalji,

Dr. Nemichandraji, Babu Kamataprasadaji, there is a paucity of

critical research and analytical writing in the Digambara community.

 

Btw, the quote that I use as the header in all my emails,

 

na hi jñanena sadrisam pavitramiha vidyate

Gita 4.38

 

was used as the header in all of the publications of the

Manikchandra Jaina Granthamala, Mumbai.

 

Best wishes,

Manish Modi

 

svadhyayat ma pramadah