Jinamanjari

(A)theologies @ 115 Fahrenheit Some Reflections on the ISSJS 2007

By Mathieu E. Courville

"Dr. Mathieu Courville’s reflective essay explores the personal and intellectual transformations brought about by his participation in the International Summer School for Jain Studies (ISSJS) 2007,…

A glimpse of Geometry of Certain Figures

By Vinod Mishra, S. L. Singh

This scholarly article surveys the significant developments in Indian geometry from the 9th to 15th century CE, focusing on how ancient Indian mathematicians—particularly Jain scholars—formulated…

A History of the Bahubali Statue in Karkala, South India

By Y. Umanatha Shenoi

Karkala, currently a taluk in Mangalore district of Karnataka, has deep historical roots, with traces from the Stone Age to the medieval period. It rose to prominence under the Jaina Bhairava kings,…

A Narrative from Jaina Literature

By Fujinaga Sin

This article by Dr. Fuginaga Sin first discusses contribution of Jainism to literature in Prakrit and then in modern Indian languages, namely, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi and Tamil. This literature…

A Note on Abhidan Rajendra: Jain Canonical Dictionary

By K.L. Banthia

This article highlights the monumental scholarly work of Ācārya Vijaya Rajendrasuri, who compiled the Abhidan Rajendra Kosh, a comprehensive Jain canonical dictionary in Hindi. Recognizing the rich…

A Select Comparison of Passages from Early Buddhist and Jain Texts

By Kenji Watanabe

Dr. Kenji Watanabe conducts a comparative textual analysis of early Buddhist and Jain scriptures, highlighting parallel phrasing and shared philosophical ideas, especially regarding moral restraint,…

A Study of Syādvāda

By Atsusi Uno

This scholarly article explores the historical evolution and interpretation of Syādvāda—the Jain doctrine of conditional predication—within Jain logic and epistemology. Often seen as synonymous with…

A Westerner Finds Jainism as Her Faith

By Michael Mcateer

1. A Westerner’s Journey to Jainism By Michael McAteer, Toronto Star This section presents the story of Irena Upenieks, a Latvian-born Canadian who, after exploring multiple religious paths…

Agadadattacariyam of Devendragani

By N. Suresh Kumar

This article by Dr. N. Suresh Kumar presents the Agadadattacariyam, a Jain narrative preserved in the commentary of Devendragani on the Uttaradhyayana Sutra. Though possibly a later addition to the…

Ajila Kings of Venur

By N. Maniratnakumari

1) The Ajila dynasty ruled the Jain kingdom of Venur, located on the coastal belt of Karnataka, for 632 years (1154–1786 CE). Their reign established Venur as a major Jain center, featuring eight…

Amulya Tattva Vicara: An Early Poem by Srimad Rajachandra

By Vinod Kapashi

"This article presents a critical analysis of Śrīmad Rājacandra’s early poem Amulya Tattva Vicāra (Thought on Priceless Principles), composed at age 16 and included as Lesson 67 in his 1883 Gujarati…

An Ode to an Amerijain

By Padmini Nagaraj

This poem reflects the emotional and cultural conflict experienced by Bhuvanendar, a symbolic figure of the diasporic Jain living in America. The poet presents a deep sense of duality and…

Ancient Jain Shrine Kanakagiri in South India

By Bhuvanendra Kumar

1. Historical Significance of Kanakagiri Kanakagiri, located in southern Karnataka, has a Jain religious history spanning over 1500 years. It is closely associated with the renowned Jain ācārya…

Approaches to the Question of the Antiquity of Jainism

By Thomas Mcevilley

This scholarly article investigates the deep historical roots of Jainism, proposing that it likely predates Buddhism and possibly draws from even older, non-Aryan traditions such as the Indus Valley…

Art Aspects of Nisidhi Memorials

By Srinivas V. Padigar

This article presents a detailed study of the artistic and ritual significance of niṣidhi memorials in Jain tradition, particularly in Karnataka. Niṣidhis commemorate individuals—monks, nuns, and…

Asti And Syad In Jaina Thought

By Mahendra Kumar Jain

This article explores the Jaina philosophical concepts of asti (what is) and syād (conditioned or tentative assertion), particularly in relation to logic, inference, and knowledge. Jainism emphasizes…

Book Review

By Christopher Key Chapple, Kenji Watanabe, Bhuvanendra Kumar

1. Reconciling Yogas by Christopher Key Chapple This volume is a modern scholarly re-examination and English translation of Haribhadra Sūri's Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya, an 8th-century Jain text engaging…

Book Review

This book review of The Archetypal Actions of Ritual by Caroline Humphrey and James Laidlaw (Oxford, 1994) explores the authors' challenge to traditional anthropological views of ritual. Focusing on…

Book Review

By K. R. Chandra, Mikal Austin Radford, T. V. G. Sastri

Restoration of the Original Language of Ardhamagadhi Texts by Dr. K. R. Chandra Reviewer: Mikal Austin Radford Key Points: i) The work is a methodological milestone in Jain textual linguistics.…

Book Review

By Ashij Kumar, T. G. Kalghatgi, Mikal Austin Radford, M. A. Dhaky

This final section features book reviews of three major publications that enrich the field of Jain studies: 1. Arhat Pārśva and Dharaṇendra Nexus (Ed. M.A. Dhaky) A collection of 14 research…