Books Received
Summary
The “Books Received” section of this issue offers readers a panorama of recent publications in Jain studies. It begins with Devendu Kumar Jain’s critical edition and English translation of Acharya Kundakunda’s Bāras – Anuvekkhā, a major Śvetāmbara text on contemplation. Premsāgar Jain’s Onāmasīdham, published by the Sri Kundakunda Bhārati Prakāśa, introduces a rarely discussed Digambara scripture. Govindarāya Jain’s Hindi translation of Elācārya’s Tirukkural makes the classic Tamil ethical couplets accessible to a broader audience and invites comparative study with Jain moral philosophy. Balabhadra Jain’s edition of Daulat Rām’s Chahadhāla, a didactic poem on karma and liberation, and Muni Dhananjaya Kumar’s Naya Mānav Naya Viśva, a modern treatise by Ācārya Mahāprajña, show the range of vernacular Jain literature. Mahāprajña’s Mahāvīr Kā Artha Śāstra applies ancient economic thinking to contemporary issues. R.K. Jain’s A Scientific Treatise on Great Namokar Mantra analyzes the cosmology embedded in the most sacred Jain prayer. Ācārya Vidyānanda’s Dharma‑Nirapekṣa nahi, Sampradāya‑Nirapekṣa calls for an ecumenical but ethically grounded Jainism. The list further includes Mohan Candra’s special Gommateśa number of Nānāsāgara, an edition of Nemicandra’s Labdhisāra with glossary and index, Satya Prakash Jain’s study of Hindi Jaina kathā literature, the first volume of Mangi Lal Bhutoria’s history of the Oswāl community, and Dharma Candra Jain’s Abhidharma deśanā: Bauddha Siddhānta Kī Vivecan, which, although on Buddhism, contains extensive comparative material on Jainism. Brief remarks accompany each title, indicating its content, scope and usefulness. Collectively, the entries illustrate the vitality of Jain scholarship in the early 1990s, covering textual editions, translations, historical studies, community histories and doctrinal expositions across multiple languages. Readers interested in deepening their understanding of Jain philosophy, ethics, literature and history will find these works valuable resources.
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Conclusion
By surveying new books across textual, philosophical and historical disciplines, this section underscores the diversity of modern Jain scholarship. The works listed range from critical editions of canonical scriptures to comparative studies and community histories, reflecting a growing engagement with Jain heritage in multiple languages. Such publications not only preserve ancient teachings but also adapt them for contemporary readers, enriching both academic research and community understanding.