Books on Jainology

"Books on Jainology" is an annotated bibliography that guides readers through a broad range of studies on Jainism. The compilers list titles with publication details, page counts and prices and provide concise evaluations of each work’s scope and importance. Early entries focus on historical studies. Ayyangar and Seshagiri Rao’s *Studies in South Indian Jainism* is a two‑part volume; part I traces the early history of the Jain sect, its migration to the South, the presence of Jains in Tamil lands and the periods of Saiva Nayanars and Vaisnava Alvars, and surveys Jaina and Tamil literature, the Jains in the Deccan and the Sangama age; part II examines epigraphic evidence and Andhra‑Karnata literary traditions and includes a bibliography and index. Harivallabh Bhayani’s *Studies in Hemacandra’s Deśināmālā* is highlighted as a lexicographical study that seeks to ascertain the correct form and meaning of desi (vernacular) words and trace their sources and derivation. Klaus Fischer’s *Caves and Temples of the Jainas* explores rock‑cut architecture in Bihar, Orissa, South and Central India and structural temples of the medieval and modern periods, providing plates, a bibliography and index. J.L. Jaini’s *The Jaina Universe* offers a detailed account of Jain cosmology with mathematical calculations and diagrams. Subsequent entries (not reproduced here) extend beyond history and architecture. They include translations and studies of canonical texts like the *Tattvārtha Sūtra*, treatises on logic and philosophy, catalogues of Jain manuscripts, dictionaries of Prakrit and Ardha‑Magadhi terms and modern analyses of Jain art. Some titles examine the ethics of ahimsa and the vows, while others present biographies of leading acharyas and accounts of Jain communities in different regions. The compiler notes whether a work includes illustrations, indexes or bibliographies and often comments on its intended audience, indicating whether it is aimed at scholars or general readers. By placing early twentieth‑century monographs alongside recent research, the article showcases the growth of Jain studies and highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the field, which spans history, archaeology, linguistics, cosmology, philosophy and literature. The combined effect is to provide an accessible guide for students and researchers seeking to navigate the diverse resources available on Jainism and to underscore the richness of the tradition’s textual and material heritage.

Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.