Book Review — Jain Sahitya Ka Brihad Itihas (Vol. II, Agadanga Agam)
By Unexhibited
Summary
This extended review‑essay surveys Volume II of the comprehensive Hindi history of Jain literature (Jain Sahitya ka Brihad Itihas), focusing on the Anga‑bāhya corpus and particularly the Uttarādhyayana‑sūtra and Cheda‑sūtras. It summarizes dating debates (pre‑ and post‑Vikrama), textual attributions (e.g., Sayambhava’s Yugaprajñapti), and themes such as disciplinary codes, monastic organization, vows, and narrative exempla. The reviewer notes how the volume synthesizes philology with doctrinal exposition and social history, offering tables, indices, and citations. A strength is the clarity with which it distinguishes prescriptive (Mūla‑sūtra) from corrective (Cheda‑sūtra) frameworks, and the framing of narrative anthologies alongside technical treatises. Pedagogically, the review values the work for students entering Jain studies, while also pointing out lacunae and areas for further research. Attention to sectarian developments and comparative references situates the texts within the wider Indian religious‑literary field. The evaluation concludes that the series sets a reliable baseline for future scholarship while inviting critical engagement with chronology and transmission.
Conclusion
A substantive, pedagogical review that commends the volume’s synthesis of philology and doctrine while noting open questions on dating and authorship.