Book Review: Vardhaman Jivan-Kos Vol II
Summary
The review of “Vardhaman Jivan-Kos: Vol. II” evaluates the second volume of a comprehensive topical dictionary devoted to the life and teachings of Vardhamana Mahāvīra, the 24th Jain tirthankara. The reviewer opens with a reflection on modern scholarship, noting that researchers cannot rely on a single textual tradition but must examine diverse sources, including literary, epigraphic and oral materials. Because the available source material for Jain studies is vast and scattered, topical reference works such as dictionaries and encyclopaedias are invaluable in making scholarly research easier. The review situates the Vardhaman Jivan-Kos alongside earlier reference works like the Abhidhāna Rājendra Kosa and the Jainendra Siddhānta Kosa and notes that the editors Mohanlal Banthia and Srichand Choraria have built on these efforts to produce a cyclopaedia of Mahāvīra’s life. The reviewer summarises the contents of Volume I, which covered Mahāvīra’s life from conception to liberation, and explains that Volume II focuses on his thirty‑three or so previous births according to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara sources. Entries are arranged alphabetically and draw on canonical texts, commentaries and traditional biographies. The dictionary provides details about Mahāvīra’s kalyāṇakas (auspicious events), his aliases and epithets, his eulogists, the fivefold knowledge, his disciples including the eleven gaṇadharas, and episodes from his past lives. The reviewer notes that by using sources from both sectarian traditions the editors facilitate comparative study. The dictionary also includes entries on the roles of women in Mahāvīra’s life and on lesser‑known episodes, making it a one‑stop reference for researchers and lay readers alike. The review praises the editors’ meticulous work and emphasises that the dictionary will save scholars innumerable hours by collating information that was previously scattered across texts and languages. To contextualise the importance of Mahāvīra, the reviewer reminds readers that he was born around 599 BCE in Kundagrama to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala, renounced his royal life at thirty to pursue asceticism, and attained enlightenment at forty‑two after twelve years of intense austerities. Mahāvīra’s teachings emphasise non‑violence, truthfulness, non‑stealing, celibacy and non‑possessiveness, and his life has inspired centuries of literature and art. The dictionary summarises the canonical accounts of his previous births, enabling readers to understand how his soul accumulated meritorious karma and how these stories communicate Jain values.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
The review concludes that Volume II of the Vardhaman Jivan-Kos is a valuable contribution to Jain scholarship. By systematically cataloguing information about Mahāvīra’s previous births and associated themes, the editors provide a resource that complements existing dictionaries and facilitates comparative research across sects. The reviewer appreciates the work’s inclusivity of sources and suggests that future volumes could cover the lives of other Jinas. Overall, the dictionary not only aids scholars but also brings the inspiring life of Mahāvīra—with his emphasis on renunciation, enlightenment and ethical conduct—to a wider audience.