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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
Fig 1
42 3.3 Typology of Jain manuscripts on the basis of visual
apprearence (part.1)
After describing the main types of Jain books, Mss, Muni Shri Punyavijayji presents a classification of Mss. folios based on the textual and visual content which is as under: (part.1) 1 Tri patha, 2 Pancha patha. 3 Shuda, 4 Chitra pustak,
The book or the Mss which has the main text written in bold letters and its criticism written above or below the main text is called the Tri patha book. (Fig 1) Similarly the Ms having the main text in bold letters in the center and the criticisms on top and bottom as well as on the two sides, is called the Pancha patha Mss or book.(Fig 2) The third type of Ms is called the shuda Ms. because it has evolved from the trunk of an elephant, which is long and contineous. Therefore the Ms. which is written in a contineous manner without any division or break is called the Shuda Ms. It is generally regarded that this tradition of Tri patha and Pancha patha Mss. was in vogue since the 15th century A.D.
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