A Short History of Jaina Research

This article surveys the development of academic Jaina studies from the early nineteenth century to the time of writing. It notes that European Indologists began publishing Jain scriptures as early as 1808, although orthodox Jains initially resisted printing due to the belief that printing harmed microscopic organisms. Nevertheless, printed editions of the Śvetāmbara canon appeared between 1874 and 1900, making Jain texts accessible to scholars. Hermann Jacobi’s 1879 study of the Kalpa Sūtra demonstrated that Jainism is independent from both Buddhism and Hinduism. The article recounts subsequent contributions: Ernst Leumann’s studies of Jain narrative literature, Richard Pischel’s grammatical analyses, and Walther Schubring’s critical editions and translations. Schubring’s 1935 work Die Lehre der Jainas summarised the canonical doctrine and was later translated into English. The article also discusses the role of Indian scholars and monastic communities in preserving manuscripts and collaborating with European researchers. It highlights the foundation of the Jain Journal and other periodicals that facilitated international exchange. Later decades saw the expansion of research beyond philology into art, architecture and sociology; for example, modern scholars interpret temples like Ranakpur as cosmic diagrams with 1,444 uniquely carved pillars and spires symbolising Mount Meru. The article concludes by emphasising that Jaina studies remain vibrant due to cooperation between Indian and Western scholars and by urging further interdisciplinary research.

Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.