The Institute of Jainology is looking to employ a full time Manager for supporting its £800K investment in the   development of JAINpedia a unique on line resource for Jainism using contextualised Jain scriptures – see http://blog.jainpedia.org/?p=3#more-3 and http://www.jainology.org/2009/12/23/progress-on-jainpedia-project

The role includes supporting the management of relationships with leading organisations including Kings College London, V&A Museum, British Library and Universities in Europe and India. Activities will include supporting the implementation of outreach and educational services, volunteer support and liaison, and technical liaison as part of the JAINPedia rollout.

The role would suit a highly adaptable self starter who is excellent at managing relationships and a strong sense of quality in delivery and experience of community/voluntary work. Strong IT and communication skills are essential. Experience of a South Asian language would be of advantage.

Person Specification:(Abbrv:  E=Essential   D=Desirable )

• Educated to degree level or equivalent (D)
• Articulate in written and spoken English (E)
• Experience of working in the arts/heritage sector (D)
• Ability to speak one South Asian community language (D)
• Ability to work as part of a disparate team and take accountability for delivery (E)
• Ability to multi-task, deal with ambiguity and prioritise conflicting issues (E)
• Demonstrate the ability to be a self starter and to work effectively under pressure (E)
• Strong communication skills and the ability to liaise with people at all levels (E)
• Experience of working in a community/diverse environments (D)
• Excellent IT skills (E)
• Experience of managing disparate groups/volunteers (D)

Purpose of Role :

• To offer  support in the devolvement of JAINpedia a unique on line resource using contextualised Jain scriptures
• To offer support in  the management of relationships with leading organisations including Kings College, V&A Museum,  British Library, Welcome Trust along with Universities in Europe and India
• To offer  support in  the implementation of outreach and educational services, volunteer support and liaison, and technical liaison as part of the JAINpedia rollout
• To manage the develop content of the Jain Spirit Newsletter
• To Support Kings College in building the JAINpedia online resource 

  Main Responsibilities:

• To work in conjunction with  project staff on the implementation of sustaining relationships with partner holdings
• To work alongside Museum Consultant in offering communication and  support in all areas regarding museum/heritage exhibitions, events and related strategies
• To work with Project Consultants/staff in offering administrative support as and when required
• To liaise with venues and partners regarding booking of Travelling Exhibition and manage technical,  insurance and transport issues connect to this
• To offer support in the overall management in developing the JAINpedia website
• To prepare reports, spreadsheets as well other related documents connected to all areas of the project
• To travel to places of worship and community organisations across the as well as outreach visits to Jain communities across the UK
• To help manage all JAINpedia Volunteers 

Remuneration would be in the range of 18-20K, on a self employed basis, and the post would be based in Borehamwood. Travel in the UK would be required and own car is preferable. For more details or sending CV please email  to usha.shah@jainpedia.org

There will also be news about publications of new books aimed at classroom and school events such as training opportunities for teachers.

Visitors can sign up to receive regular updates from the ‘Learn Jainism’ blog.  They will also opportunity to leave their own comments or questions about ‘Learn Jainism’.

The blog can be found at:

http://learnjainism.wordpress.com/

Learnjainism site at:

http://www.learnjainism.org/default.asp

Colin Hynson, the author of the book ‘ Learn Jainism’ and the webmaster for its web site – it will provide a perfect opportunity to discuss or raise issues through the blog.

Learn Jainism site at:

On February 13^th, Chinese New Year’s eve, Singapore Jain Religious Society formally opened their new premises. The Guest of Honour for the opening ceremony was Singapore’s Senior Minister,  Mr Goh Chok Tong from the Prime Minister’s Office, responsible for  co-ordinating  the activities of Ministries and the general policies of the Government and to provide overall policy direction. This high level representation demonstrates the high regard in which the Jains are held by the Government. The ceremony was reported on the prime time tv news on the New Year’s eve and it also made the front page of a Sunday paper with coloured photo.

The address by the Minister further demonstrates the high regard in which the Jains are held in Singapore along with the other religions in this multi racial multi religious society.“

I am delighted to join you today for the opening ceremony of the Singapore Jain Religious Society’s newly renovated premises. I was told that among us today are many distinguished Jain scholars and religious leaders from other countries. Let me extend to all of you a very warm welcome to Singapore.

The Jain Community

2        The Jain community in Singapore is a small one, with only about 1,500 members. But big or small, it has an equal place along with the other communities in Singapore. Historically, the Jain community has been a significant contributor to social and cultural development. In India, Jains head numerous schools, colleges and hospitals, and are one of the most literate communities. Jain scholars were pioneer contributors to Kannada, Tamil and Hindi-language literature. The works of Jain writers Adikavi Pampa, Sri Ponna and Ranna, are collectively called the “three gems of Kannada literature”.

3        The first Jains arrived in Singapore about a century ago. In Singapore, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Taoists form the majority of our population. However, despite being a small community, the Singapore Jains have made their presence felt in tangible ways. They have frequently shown compassion to those in need, extending their charity to local community projects and international causes, including contributing to the SARS Courage Fund in 2003 and helping to rebuild a devastated village in southern India after the 2004 tsunami. The Jain society regularly hosts food fairs for the boys from Ramakrishna Mission Boys Home, and its youths have been active volunteers with the Jamiyah Children’s Home since 2005. Later this morning, we will also witness the adoption of the Sunlove Neighbourhood Link @ Kaki Bukit, a care centre for the elderly, by the Jain Religious Society.

4        The Jains are not alone in this respect. I am heartened to note that in Singapore, many ethnic and religious groups, including Buddhists, Taoists, Muslims, Hindus and Christians, readily support secular, community projects. Such support is a key strength of our multicultural society.

Forging a Multi-racial, Multi-religious Society

5        Our success in forging a multi-racial and multi-religious society has sometimes resulted in Singaporeans, especially younger Singaporeans, taking the harmony we enjoy for granted. No one is surprised when they hear of families of different races and religions living happily together in HDB flats. To cite an example from my constituency, in Blk 33 of Marine Crescent, on the 13th floor, you have Muslims, Catholics and Buddhists living side-by-side. In the same block, on the 3rd floor, there are Hindu, Taoist and Christian families happily sharing a common corridor. Last December, I attended a Year-end Christmas Party organised by an RC (Residents’ Committee) in Marine Parade. The RC Chairman is a Christian; the Vice-Chairman a Buddhist and the Treasurer a Muslim. The resident who dressed up as Santa Claus is a Hindu grandfather! Working together, they drew out many residents of different races and religions for the party. We sang Christmas carols together, thoroughly enjoying ourselves. It was not a very silent night, even though we sang Silent Night.

6        Singaporeans are not at all surprised by such phenomena, because we have accepted multiculturalism as a way of life. We are also a practical people. In land-short Singapore, we often find places of worship in close proximity to one another. For example, the Jain Religious Society is on the same street as, and in fact sandwiched in between, the Tsan Tan Lim Temple and Azizah Chishty Quranic Centre. However, foreign visitors and new immigrants have often expressed amazement at what Singapore has achieved. When I visited Oman two weeks ago, Omani Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahad told me that when he visited Singapore, he was very impressed by our success in building a harmonious multi-racial and multi-religious society.

7        Not long ago, I met an Italian resident at my reception for new Singapore citizens in Marine Parade. He had given up his Italian citizenship to settle in Singapore. When I asked him why, he said that he had worked in Germany and the US and while he loved Italy – a beautiful country with rich history and culture – he decided to make Singapore his home because of the freedom here. Seeing my raised eyebrows, he explained that in Singapore, he could walk in the park or on the streets at 3 am and feel safe. No one would consider it strange. In Singapore, he could be himself. He said, “You can be a Hindu, a Muslim or a Christian. You can choose to wear traditional Indian or Arab clothes. No one would stare at you or criticise you. You can dress in whatever you want and be who you want to be. This is the kind of freedom that is difficult to find in many European countries today”. He told me that when he decided to give up his Italian citizenship and become a Singaporean, he was initially worried that his parents in Italy might be upset. However, when he told his parents, they not only did not object, but also said that it was a “good choice”.

8        Our Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion. Singaporeans are free to profess any faith, and to practise and promote their religions. However, this must be done responsibly. We must respect not only the common spaces that other Singaporeans live, work and play in, but also their separate space, and must not run down or trivialise their beliefs. This is a key principle underpinning the peace and social cohesion that we have here. This is why the Ministry of Home Affairs had to act firmly in response to the insensitive comments by a pastor from Lighthouse Evangelism recently. I am glad that the matter has been resolved. Of course, in the future, there may still be the occasional misunderstanding between people of different races and religions. When it occurs, we must act quickly, exercise tolerance, respect any different viewpoints as being part and parcel of our multicultural social fabric and try to resolve the misunderstanding sincerely.

9        The government and the people have worked hard to maintain our social harmony. Singaporeans have grown up with diversity in their midst, in their schools, while doing National Service, in their housing estates and workplaces. But we can each do more to enhance our mutual understanding of one another. I believe that in reaching out to one another, we will find more commonalities than differences. I am therefore glad to see that there are quite a few Chinese among us today. This is Chinese New Year’s eve – the most important day for the Chinese as they gather for their annual family reunion dinners. Your presence here is testimony of your willingness to learn about other cultures.

Conclusion

10      To conclude, the social cohesion and harmony that we enjoy did not come about by chance, and must not be taken for granted. We must treasure it and continue to build on it by exercising mutual tolerance, acceptance and understanding. I congratulate the Singapore Jain Religious Society on the opening of its new premises, and also wish all Singaporeans a happy Chinese New Year.

“

Mr Goh Chok Tong Performing the Opening Ceremony

Many of the temples at Palitana date back to the 11th and 12th centuries Getting up to the mountain is not that easy. It involves climbing up more than 3,000 steps cut into the side of the mountain. The elderly or those who find it too difficult are taken up on special chairs carried by porters. It can take about two hours to get all the way up to the top. Most Jains will do it at least once in their lifetime but the truly devout will do it 99 times.

BBC camera team was recently in Palitana and their team of Sanjoy Majmudar and Bhasker Solanki have created a wonderful and captivating slide show. To view this slide show visit:  Click here

Non-violence and compassion towards every living being is at the core of Jain belief. And this year their spiritual quest in Palitana has manifested itself in a project to help some 29,000 people with disabilities. A group of Jains has set up a vast medical camp in the town to provide mobility accessories and hearing aids to these people. The project was led by Ratna Nidhi Trust of Mumbai and supported by Jains globally. Diginitaries like His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Gujarat’s Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi had attended the camp.

H H The Dalai Lama talking to one of the beneficiaries

Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi talking to another beneficiary

Young Jains along with the Bhakti Mandal had arranged a special evening of devotional songs from many faiths.

It is pleasing to note that all efforts were successful and a large number of visitors had been to the temples and the attendance at the Bhakti evening was also good.

Following report by Father Francis Prest appeared in the Westminster Interfaith Newsletter following his visit to the Potters Bar temple.

Click here for the: Report on Potters Bar Visit

(26.11.1881 – 30.1.1960)

~ by Manish Modi

Can a man’s handwriting change his future? Yes it can. It changed Pandit Nathuram Premi’s future and the history of Hindi language publishing in India. It was Pandit Premiji’s handwriting that took him to Bombay, the city where he was to meet his mentor, Pannalal Bakhliwal, and where he was to start his own publishing firm and the first bookshop in Bombay, Hindi Grantha Ratnākara Kāryālaya and where later, in the memory of Seth Manikchandra, he was to start the Manikacandra Jaina Granthamālā. His contribution to Jain and Hindi literature through his own writings, as well as through his work in translation and publishing remains unsurpassed. A man of firm beliefs and strong principles, he used his editorship of the influential magazines Jain Mitra and Jain Hitaiṣī to advocate social reforms in the Digambara Jain community to which he belonged and the publication of the Digambara Jain scriptures.

Born on 26 November 1881 in Devari, in the district of Sagar in Madhya Pradesh, Nathuram Premi was the eldest child of Tundelal Modi, a travelling merchant of modest means, belonging to the Paravār caste of Digambara Jains, hailing from Bundelkhand. Premiji studied in grammar school and was the monitor of his class. He cleared his pre-high school exams in 1898 and became a schoolteacher nearby at Rehli.

Inspired by his guru Syed Amir Ali Mir, Premiji became a budding poet who wrote in Urdu and Braj. Premiji often said that he was not a spontaneous poet. His command of rasa, alaṅkāra and piṅgala gave him the impetus to write poetry, and his mastery of Sanskrit grammar would help him greatly in future as well. Young Nathuram wrote under the nom de plume of “Premi”. His poems were published in the literary magazines of the time, Rasika Mitra, Rasika Vāṭikā and Kāvya Sudhākara, but unfortunately, his poems are no longer available.

In the 1890s, he married Rama Devi, who was from the nearby village of Sarkheda, in the district Sagar. They led a very happy married life. Premiji, a staunch supporter of women’s empowerment, regarded Rama Devi as a close friend and took great interest in educating her.

In 1901, the Digambara Jain Tīrthakṣetra Committee, situated in Bombay, released an advertisement for an office clerk. Premiji sent in an application for the post, and his beautiful handwriting won the job for him. He arrived in Bombay in 1901, and started working for the Digambara Jain Tīrthakṣetra Committee as a clerk. (2) His efficiency and honesty soon ensured that he was running the entire office. From accounts, and
correspondence, to general administration and handling the safe, everything was entrusted to him.

Competence breeds jealousy. The all round competence and hardworking ethics of Premiji made his co-workers insecure. Hence, a false complaint was made against Premiji alleging that he was not completely honest in his bookkeeping. Premiji insisted that his books be audited. When the books and cash where tallied, it was found that there was some cash in excess. This was because Premiji, who had begun taking on translation jobs, would keep his own earnings also in the office safe. Premiji’s name was cleared, but he decided not to work for anyone who would question his honesty. He decided to quit and start out on his own.

The owner of Hirabaug, Seth Manikchandra, had seen Premiji and was impressed by his honesty, diligence and intellect. He asked Premiji to take up rooms at the Hirabaug Dharmashala at the heart of the Bombay market and start his business from there. He accepted the offer and together with Pannalal Bakhliwal started the Jain Grantha Ratnākara Kāryālaya in 1906.

While he was working for the Digambara Jain Tīrthakṣetra Committee, Premiji also edited Jain Mitra, making it one of the most influential Jain magazines of that era. It became known as a progressive magazine, sound on Jain siddhānta but willing the community to change with the times and give up its orthodoxy. Premiji’s editorials on Jain history were much appreciated. In fact, Jain Mitra became a masthead for all those who wanted the Jain community to move forward and who were known as the sudhāravādī as opposed to the conservatives, the rūḍhivādī. Premiji was at the epicentre of this movement for social freedom, universal progress and modern education. He also began advocating the remarriage of Jain widows. This was unheard of in the conservative Jain community of that time and there was much opposition. But other Jain reformers, such as Kṣullaka Ganeshprasadji Varni of Bundelkhand, publicly backed Premiji. In 1914, Premiji and Varniji both addressed a rally at Sonagiri, a Digambara Jain place of pilgrimage in Bundelkhand, where they publicly declared their support for widow remarriage.

Pandit Premiji was the first Jain scholar of the 20th century to carry out a critical study of Jain history. He was the inspiration for the Śvetāmbara stalwarts Pandit Sukhlal Sanghvi and Muni Jinavijaya who carried out immensely important studies on Jainism. Pandit Sukhlalji and Muni Jinavijayaji, along with Pandit Becharadasji Doshi, Pandit Agarchand Nahata and Dr Dalsukh Malvania acknowledged their debt to Premiji in a festschrift dedicated to him.(4)

Premiji’s festschrift, Premī Abhinandana Grantha, edited by the Vedic scholar Dr Vasudev Sharan Aggarwal, was the first such work in the Jain community. An incident during the formal launch of it provides an insight into Premiji’s character. The 1946 Premī Abhinandana Grantha, with messages written by Indian luminaries such as Sir Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Purushottamdas Tandon and Kaka Kalelkar, was to be formally launched in Calcutta, and a grand luncheon was to mark the occasion. Premiji opposed the idea of a festschrift in his honour and had to be prevailed upon to go to Calcutta. But when he heard of the luncheon, he refused to attend; in that year, Bengal had suffered a famine and Premiji could not accept the invitation for a grand luncheon when there were thousands of people dying of starvation.

While still the editor of the Jain Mitra, Premiji also started editing classics such as the Banārasāvilāsa, Daulatapadasaṅgraha, Jinaśataka, etc. His work on the Ardha Kathānaka was ready in 1912 – 1913, (5) but the book was not printed until 1943 as it was Premiji’s policy to publish other scholars’ works before his own.

Premiji was adept at several languages. One of his mentors, Pannalal Bakhliwal, taught him Bengali, the language of Tagore, and on his own, he studied and mastered Gujarati and Marathi. His Sanskrit background helped him to learn Prakrit and Apabhramśa, also on his own. Premiji, became known for his command of languages as well as grasp of Jain siddhānta, and was flooded with translation work. At the behest of the Ṣrīmad Rājacandra Granthamālā, he translated from Gujarati into Hindi Śrīmad Rājacandra’s Mokṣamālā. This translation was unique in that he translated the prose segments into prose and the poetry into verse form. He also translated Ācārya Amṛtacandra’s Puruṣārthasiddhyupāya from Sanskrit to Hindi.

All along, Premiji unwaveringly continued to edit the Jain Mitra. In 1912, (6) he founded the Jain Hitaiṣī, a Jain magazine with a reformist and questioning approach. Jain Hitaiṣī was known for the forthright views of its editorials and academically sound articles on Jain history, culture and society. Premiji’s scholarly articles on Jain history were trend setters which paved the path for the academic study of Jainism by lay Indian scholars in the 20th century.

His Jain Sāhitya aur Itihās, a collection of articles that he wrote for Jain Mitra and Jain Hitaiṣī, set the benchmark for scholarly research into Jain history. He later re-edited these articles and produced a compilation, first published in 1942, and a second edition in 1956. His grandson Yashodhar’s wife Vijayalakshmi helped him with the second edition. He had taught her Sanskrit, Bengali and Marathi, and she was to help him greatly by proofreading his writings.

Premiji also edited and published Ardha Kathānaka, Banārasīvilāsa and many other Digambara Jain works, including Kundakunda’s Bārasa Aṇuvekkhā.

On 24 September 1912, Premiji founded the publishing house Hindi Grantha Ratnākara Karyālaya (now known as Hindi Grantha Kāryālaya), which was to become the foremost Hindi publishing house in India and also the oldest bookstore in Bombay. The first publication was a Hindi translation of John Stuart Mill’s Liberty, titled Svādhīnatā. The Hindi translation was by Pandit Mahavir Prasad Dvivedi, whose Hindi magazine Sarasvatī was regarded by Premiji as the benchmark for Hindi quarterly publications. Hindi Granth Karyalay became synonymous with the best Indian literature. He published almost the entire oeuvre of Sharatchandra Chattopadhyaya, the great Bengali writer and some works of Rabindranath Tagore, such as Āṃkh kī Kirkirī, and Naukā Dūbī. Apart from publishing Hindi translations of these Bengali classics, Premiji also published Hindi translations of the Gujarati writer KM Munshi, such as Gujarāt ke Nāth and Pātaṇ kā Prabhutva. Premiji and Munshi Premchand were close friends, and he published the first edition of Munshi Premchand’s classic novel, Godān. Apart from Godān, Premiji published Premchand’s short story collections entitled Nava Nidhi and Sapta Saroj.

Premiji was always keen on publishing the work of new writers including Hajariprasad Dvivedi, Jainendrakumar, Yashpal, Acharya Chatursen, and Pandit Sudarshan. He also published the Bengali plays of Dvijendra Lal Rai for the first time in Hindi.

In memory of Seth Manikchandra, Premiji established the Manikacandra Jaina Granthamālā wherein he published Jain scriptures, for the first time systematically edited by philologists. The Manikacandra Jaina Granthamāla published over 40 Digambara Jain texts, mostly written in Prakrit, Apabhramśa or Sanskrit. Premiji ran the Manikacandra Jaina Granthamālā on an honorary basis between 1915 and the 1950s. All the books were sold at cost. When his health began to fail, it was decided to hand over the series to Bhāratīya Jñānapīṭha in Varanasi. After that, the series came to a halt. None of its books are available today. Even getting photocopies of all the books is difficult in India. A great treasure has been lost through neglect and modern man’s apathy towards religious knowledge.

Premiji lived his life at the vanguard of the Indian Renaissance Movement which began in Bengal and heralded an unprecedented upsurge in education, in the printing and publishing of classical Indian, medieval and modern literature, health care reforms, and the introduction and acceptance of sweeping social changes that awakened India from a sleepy nation rooted in the middle ages into the rapidly growing industrial and economic power that she is today.

Hindi Granth Ratnākar Kāryālay became India’s No. 1 publishers of Hindi literature. At that time, nationalism and patriotism were peaking and Hindi was not merely a non-local language, it was a symbol of Indian patriotism and defiance in the face of British imperialism. Very appropriately then, the acclaimed Hindi novelist Vishnu Prabhakar called Premiji the “Bhīṣma Pitāmaha” of Hindi publishing.

Premiji lived a long life studded with literary and scholarly achievements. He had suffered from asthma for a long time and passed away owing to old age on 30 January,  1960. He left behind his daughter-in-law and two grandsons. His elder grandson Yashodhar Modi is continuing his legacy along with his son Manish Modi.

In Premiji’s memory, his grandson Yashodhar Modi has started the Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series. This series has published select volumes focusing on subjects as varied as Jainism, philosophy and yoga and published scholars such as Premiji himself, Ludwig Alsdorf, Maurice Bloomfield, Padmanabh Jaini, Nalini Balbir, Willem Bollée, Jaykumar Jalaj and Hermann Kuhn. Original texts by ancient and medieval Jain ascetics such as Kundakunda, Samantabhadra, Umāsvāti, Pūjyapāda, Joindu, Prabhācandra, Bhāskaranandi, Jinabhadragani, Vādirāja and many others have been published in this series.

Hindi Granth Karyalay, http://www.hindibooks.8m.com and http://www.gohgk.com, has also published bound volumes of the International Journal of Jaina Studies.

Notes

1. In 1906, the Committee shifted its offices to the beautiful Hirabaug building owned by the philanthropic family of Seth Manikchandra Panachandra. This is where it remains to this day.
2. Please refer to Section l, “Abhinandana”, Premī Abhinandana Grantha, Pages 1- 62
3. Please refer to “Mudraṇa Kathā”, Ardha Kathānaka, pages 5 – 6.
4. Jain Hitaiṣī ran from 1912 to 1921, when it had to be closed down due to lack of funds.
5. Ardha Kathānaka has been being freshly translated into modern Hindi and English by Rohini Chowdhury. It has been published by Penguin India.

Bibliography

1. Aggarwal, Vasudev Sharan (Ed.). Premī Abhinandana Grantha. Tikamgarh: Premī Abhinandana Grantha Samiti, 1946.
2. Premī, Nāthurām. Jain Sāhitya aur Itihās. Second Edition. Mumbai: Samśodhita Sāhitya Mālā Puṣpa 1, 1942/1956.
3. Banārasīdāsa. Ardha Kathānaka. Ed. with a detailed Preface by Nāthurām Premī. Mumbai: Samśodhita Sāhitya Mālā Puṣpa 2, 1946/1957.
4. Amṛtacandra, Ācārya. Puruṣārthasiddhyupāya. Ed. with an Introduction by Nāthurām Premī. Āgās: Śrīmad Rājacandra Āśrama, 1904.
5. Goyaliya, Ayodhyaprasad. Jain Jāgaraṇa ke Agradūta. Varanasi: Bhāratīya Jñānapīṭha, 1952
6. Śāstrī, Phūlcandra (Ed.). Paravāra Jain Samāj kā Itihās. Jabalpur: Śrī Bhāratavarṣīya Digambara Jain Paravāra Sabhā, 1992.

——-

List of Publications in the Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series

Jaina Studies: Their Present State and Future Tasks
By Prof Dr Ludwig Alsdorf, English tr. by Bal Patil
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 1}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-13-1

The Story of Paesi
Prakrit text; English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 2}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-03-2

Ratnakaranda Sravakacara
Sanskrit text by Acarya Samantabhadra, Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 3}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-04-9

Vyavahara Bhasya Pithika
Prakrit text, English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 4}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-07-0

Samadhitantra
Sanskrit text by Acarya Pujyapada, Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar  Jalaj
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 5}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-06-3

Atthapahuda
Prakrit text by Acarya Kundakunda, Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 6}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-15-5

Tattvarthasutra
Sanskrit text by Acarya Prabhacandra, Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 7}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-16-2

Yogamrit: Yog Sahaj Jivan Vigyan
By Mahavir Sainik
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 8}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-17-9

Paramatmaprakasa
Apabhramsha text by Acarya Joindu, Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 9}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-09-4

Yogasara
Apabhramsha text by Acarya Joindu, Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 10}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-12-4

Dhyanastava
Sanskrit text by Acarya Bhaskaranandi, Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj {Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 11}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-20-9

Dhyanasataka
Prakrit text by Jinabhadragani Ksamasramana, Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 12}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-21-6

Barasa Anuvekkha
Prakrit text by Acarya Kundakunda, Sanskrit and Hindi translations by Pandit Nathuram Premi {Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 13}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-22-3

Istopadesa
Sanskrit text by Acarya Pujyapada, Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 14}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-23-0

Life and Stories of the Jaina Saviour Parsvanatha
An English translation of Acarya Bhavadeva’s Parsvacaritram by Prof Dr Maurice Bloomfield {Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 15}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-24-7

Samadhitantra
Sanskrit text by Acarya Pujyapada, with English tr.
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 16}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-25-4

The Apabhramsa of Svayambhudeva’s Paumacariu
By Dr Eva de Clercq
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 17}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-28-5

Jainism and the Definition of Religion
By Dr Piotr Balcerowicz
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 18}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-29-2

Dravyasamgraha : Compendium of Substances
Prakrit text by Acarya Nemicandra, English tr. by Prof Dr Nalini Balbir {Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 19}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-30-8

Tattvarthasutra
Sanskrit text by Acarya Prabhacandra, English tr. by Anish Shah
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 20}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-31-5

Rayanasara
Prakrit text by Acarya Kundakunda, Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 21}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-32-2

Jainism: An Eternal Pilgrimage
By Bal Patil
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 23}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-34-6

Dravyasamgraha
Prakrit text by Acarya Nemicandra, Hindi tr. by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 24}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-37-7

Parsvanathacaritram
Sanskrit text by Acarya Vadiraja
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 25}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-27-8

Parsvacaritram: The Life of Parsva
Sanskrit text by Acarya Gunabhadra, English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 26}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-35-3

Jain Sahitya aur Itihas
By Pandit Nathuram Premi
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 27}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-02-5

Tales of Atonement: Stories from Malayagiri’s Commentary on the Vyavahara Bhasya. English tr. by Prof Dr Willem Bollée
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 28}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-38-4

Yogasastra: A Handbook on the Three Jewels of Jainism
Sanskrit text by Acarya Hemacandra, English tr. by Prof Dr Olle Qvarnstroem
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 29}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-40-7

Istopadesa
Sanskrit text by Acarya Pujyapada
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 30}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-45-2

Dhyanabattisi : 32 Steps of Self-Realisation
Braj text by Banarasidasa, English tr. by Jerome Petit
{Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 31}.
ISBN 978-81-88769-48-3

Other books on Jainism that we have published:

International Journal of Jaina Studies, Vol. 1- 3
Ed. Dr Peter Fluegel
ISBN 978-81-88769-36-0

Christianity and Jainism: An Interfaith Dialogue
By Prof Dr Padmanabh S. Jaini.
ISBN 978-81-88769-42-1

The Basic Thought of Bhagavan Mahavir
By Dr Jaykumar Jalaj.
ISBN 978-81-88769-41-4

Rebirth of the Karma Doctrine
By Dr Subhash C Jain.
ISBN 978-81-88769-44-5

All these books are available at:

HINDI GRANTH KARYALAY
Publishers Since 1912
9 Hirabaug C P Tank
Mumbai 400004
INDIA
Phone: + 91.22.2382.6739
Email: manishymodi@gmail.com

Two years ago, the first ever book on Jainism for the R E education in English Primary Schools, Learn Jainism was published by the Institute. Harrow Council was the first council in England to incorporate Jainism in their RE Curriculum. More councils are in process of incorporating Jainism in their curricula.

A second book in the same series in due to b e published soon to reinforce the inroads being made by the first book.

The efforts made by our Secretary and the publication of these books are begining to bear fruit as evidenced by the following article that appeared in Daily Telegraph written by their Education Editor on 29th January.

Primary schools should teach about Jainism and Zoroastrianism in RE

Children as young as five should be given lessons in minority religions such as Baha’i, Jainism and Zoroastrianism, according to Government guidance.

By Graeme Paton, Education Editor  DAILY TELEGRAPH
 Published: 6:12PM GMT 29 Jan 2010 ”Pupils in primary schools should be taught about “world faiths”, even though many only have a few thousand followers in Britain.

Religious education classes should also cover atheism alongside Christianity and five other major religions – Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and Hinduism.

It is the first time the Government has produced guidance specifically tailored towards primary schools, although teachers do not have to follow it.

Diana Johnson, the Schools Minister, said it was vital that children developed a good understanding of other people’s beliefs.

“This means learning about Christianity and other religions like Islam, Hinduism and Judaism, but also considering other secular beliefs such as humanism and atheism,” she said. “Our society has never been so diverse, and good religious education plays an important role in helping to keep this country a tolerant and inclusive place to live.

“RE goes much further than just helping children understand why different people believe different things: it also gives them the chance to ask questions about their own beliefs and spirituality, and provokes challenging ethical questions.”

Religious education is compulsory in all state schools. But it is not on the national curriculum.

Instead, syllabuses are drawn up locally by committees of officials, teachers and religious groups.

But critics claim it has led to patchy lessons across the country – leaving children ignorant of many minority faiths.

The latest guidance is intended to help improve the standard of lessons in primary schools.

The document says: “To ensure that all children’s backgrounds and experiences are taken into account, it is recommended that there are also opportunities to study other religious traditions such as the Baha’i faith, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism, and secular world views, such as humanism, where appropriate.”

The Baha’i faith, which believes all religions have true and valid origins, has around 6,000 observers in Britain.

Jains believe in living lives of harmlessness and renunciation and are often vegetarians or celibate. There are thought to be 30,000 in Britain.

Zoroastrianism is based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster, who founded the religion in ancient Iran 3,500 years ago. Followers believe there is a cosmic war being waged between good and evil and number some 140,000 worldwide.

The Government’s guidance says that schools which have a significant religious community living nearby could learn about that faith.

“This could include, for example, traditional religions such as those from African countries or China,” it says.

”

Whilst there is acceptance that the religion has to  be taught to the children, we also have a task on our hands to ensure that news editors, journalists are provided with authoritative information on Jain religion and its practices.

The special cover depicts colourful Gajrath alongwith the images of 11 feet high idol of Bhagwan Shantinath situated in the Satna Digamber Jain Mandir and Pujya Acharya Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj. Special cancellation depicts image of Bhagwan Parshwanath.

This special cover was released in the grand function of Dhvajarohan and Inauguration Ceremony of Panchkalyanak on 16th January 2010 morning by famous Industrialist of Rajsthan Shri Ashok Patni in the auspisious presence of Pujya Acharya Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj. Shri A. K. Jain, Asstt. superintendent of Postoffices, Rewa Division and office bearers of Central India Philatelic Society were also present on this occasion. Central India Philatelic Society was instrumental in issuance of this Special Cover and Special Cancellation. Cost of this Special Cover is Rs. 15/- plus postage.

This information courtesy: Sudhir Jain,  Secretary, Central India Philatelic Society,   email: centralindphil@yahoo.com

Both the stamps and the covers have beautiful and attractive designs and have attracted lot of interest from stamp collectors.

Below is a composite sheet issued by the Philatelic Advisory Committee to the Indian Government.  Their details are included on the card. Please not it is not a Government Agency but a private organisation.

Dr Sanghrajka has described his lectures as discussions rather than lectures, as he intends to make his discourses as interactive as possible so that the members of the audience have an opportunity to express their own views and thoughts and have them discussed.

Last tour was for conducting the Foundation Course in Jainism; this tour will be based mainly on discussions on Atma Siddhi Shastra.

Dr Sanghrajka after spending a few days in India will commence his tour from Perth.  His schedule is planned as follows:

  If you are interested in participating at any of the centres please register with the contact person and confirm the details of the local venue and timings.