Book Review
Summary
Book Review Summary: The book review section introduces five scholarly works published in the Research Publications Series of the Research Institute of Prakrit, Jainology and Ahimsa at Muzaffarpur. Dr. Jogendra Chandra Sikdar’s "Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra" analyses the Bhagavati-sutra (Viyahapannatti), noting that it is a store‑house of Jain lore containing dogmatics, traditions, tales and dialogues presented as discussions between Mahavira and his disciples. Sikdar situates the text historically and examines its doctrinal, socio‑economic and political contexts, pointing out that it preserves interactions between Mahavira and the Ajivikas and shows how sectarian perspectives were woven into canonical discourse. Dr. Nemi Chandra Shastri’s "Haribhadra‑ke Prakrit Katha Sahitya‑ka Alocanatmak Parisilan" studies Haribhadra Suri’s contributions to Prakrit narrative literature and traces how Jain narrative forms developed and interacted with Sanskrit literature in the 8th–9th centuries. Dr. Hiralal Jain’s edition of "Sudamsanacariu" is an 11th‑century Apabhramsa didactic poem about Prince Sudarsana; Hiralal not only edits the text but also provides critical commentary on its linguistic and narrative structure and explores how didactic aims coexist with romantic and erotic motifs. Dr. K. R. Chandra’s "A Critical Study of Paumacariyam" re‑examines the earliest Jaina version of the Rama story, challenging Hermann Jacobi’s readings and comparing the Prakrit epic’s treatment of characters and themes to Valmiki’s Sanskrit Ramayana. Finally, Taiken Hanaki’s English translation of "Anugogadaraim" (Anuyogadvara) is highlighted as an encyclopedic index to Jaina canonical works; Hanaki supplements the translation with an introduction to Jaina exegesis and concepts such as the nikṣepas and nayas, making the book valuable for students of Jain logic and philosophy.
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Conclusion
This book review section showcases the institute’s commitment to rigorous scholarship and the diversity of modern Jain studies. By presenting critical editions, narrative analyses and translations, it underscores how contemporary researchers engage with canonical texts to illuminate doctrinal, historical and literary dimensions. The reviewer notes that these works expand our understanding of Jain scriptures, highlight the interplay between didactic and literary elements, and provide methodological tools for future scholarship.