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PREFACE
The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute invited me in 1930 to prepare a descriptive catalogue of Jaina manuscripts about 4,500 in number. Since no definite plan was chalked out for the grouping of manuscripts upto the beginning of 1933, I went on describing alphabetically manuscripts of all subjects, sacred and secular pertain ing to both the sects of the Jainas. Consequently some of the Mss. here noted were described by me as far back as 1930 and none after 1936, the year when I completed the work assigned
to me.
In the beginning, at least for a couple of years, the Institute had allotted two Volumes (Vol. XVII and XVIII) to "Jaina Literature and Philosophy", but it was soon realized that the canonical literature alone would make up one volume. So manuscripts were spread over the third volume, and the original Vol. XIX meant for " Prakrit and Vernacular was assigned No. XX. In April 1956 this numbering was again modified as No. XXI, and the original Vol. XIX was split up in two parts, each looked upon as a separate volume in view of my following proposal made to the Institute on 29-2-'56 having been kindly accepted by the authorities on 4-4-'56 :
At the present rate it will take many years to complete Vol. XIX and then the question of printing its appendices will arise. So it is desirable that the section of hymnology may be looked upon as a separate Volume by itself for the following
reasons:
(1) The textual matter will come to about 100 forms worth issuing in two parts (the second including Appendices).
(2) Already twenty years have elapsed since I completed this section.
(3) It will be a great help to scholars doing research in hymnology as they will be thereby furnished with appendices pertaining to it within a few years.
