________________ sys The Government of Bibar established the Research Institute of Prakrit, Jainology and Ahimsa at Vaishali (Muzaffarpur ) in 1955 with the object inter alia, to promote advanced studies and research in Prakrit and Jainology and publish works of permanent value to scholars. This Institute is one of the six institutes established by the Government of Bihar as a token of their homage to the tradition of learning and scholarship for which ancient Bihar was noted. The other five institutes are: Mithila Institute of Post-graduate Studies and Research in Sanskrit Learning at Darbhanga, K. P. Jayasawal Research Institute at Patna, Bihar Rashtrabhasa Parishad for Research and Advanced Studies in Hindi at Patna, Institute of Post-graduate Studies and Research in Arabic and Persian at Patna and Nava-Nalanda Mahavihar for Post-graduate Studies and Research in Buddhist Learning and Pali at Nalanda. (This is a revised and enlarged edition of Homage to Vaisali (Vaisali-Abhinandana-Grantha) first published by the Vaisali Sangha in 1948 and now brought out as part of the research publication programme of this Institute. The Government of Bihar hope to continue to sponsor such projects and trust that this humble service to the world of scholarship and learning would bear fruit in the fulness of time.
