Acharya Hasti Mala
The history of Jain Religion right from the period of Lord Vṛṣabhadeva the first Tīrthaṃkara of contemporary Avasarpiṇī Era to the period of Śrī Lokāśāha, the great reformer and follower of Jain doctrine i.e. up to V.N. 2000, has been described in the four volumes of this series 'Jain legend' (Jain dharma kā Maulika Itihāsa). These four volumes run up to 850 to 900 pages. This present fourth volume details the history from V.N 1476 to 2000. It describes elaborately the internal conflicts and rivalry among the different gacchas of Jina congregation and the horrific religious campaigns led by Liṃgāyatas against the followers of Jain religion. Atrocities were inflicted upon the Jain followers during this period, and as a result, the religion which once enjoyed a vast number of followers, has now become an infinitesimal group.
The herculean task of compiling and publishing the ipso facto Jain History was effectually accomplished, and has been brought out in a well organised manner due to the untiring and incessant efforts, able guidance and gracious blessings of revered Ācāryaśrī Hastī Mala Jī M.S, the epochal person and erudite scholar of scriptures.
We feel honoured in expressing our appreciation and congratulate Śrī Gaj Singh Rathod and his associate Śrī Premraj Jain for the pains they have taken to edit this fourth volume under the scholarly and research oriented guidance of ācāryaśrī.
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Due to many a reason, man now-a-days has become too busy. We have undertaken the task of abridging the "Jain dharma kā Maulika Itihāsa" with a lofty intention of creating awareness of dharma, philosophy, culture, and history among more and more people, who are preoccupied with their busy and stressful lives and hectic schedules. Though engaged in different vocations and fulfilling various responsibilities of life, it is necessary to allocate certain amount of time to get acquainted with our elegant history. Now that the readers have complete access to the abridged version of all the four volumes, we aspire that each and every householder would read the elaborate history of Jainism. Nevertheless, it is not possible for one and all. Yet it is but natural for us to desire that every single house has access to these abridged versions of our glorious Jain history and that they are read by one and all, irrespective of their age, caste and creed. We also wish that the inquisitive history lovers gift these set of books on Jain history to their friends and relatives on different occasions. Furthermore, we request the lovers of scripture to help us supply these text books to those libraries, where they are unavailable.
Compiling and abridging an elaborate original text without omitting significant incidents and facts is an uphill task, that too when it is a subject like history. In order to ensure a reasonable size, the context and references of inscriptions, scriptures and historians and their names have been omitted in these abridged volumes of Jain history. Those interested in those details are requested to refer to the original text.
The tireless efforts of Śrī Jayavantbhai P Shah, B.E. (Civil), (Retired Superintendent Engineer, Govt. of Gujarat) to summarise this fourth volume along with volume III, helped us to bring out this version successfully. Renowned litterateur Dr. Dilip Dhing reviewed and corrected the errors. We express our earnest gratitude to one and all for their cooperation.
P.S. Surana
President
S.R. Choudhry
Working President
V.R. Surana
Secretary
Samyagjṅāna Pracāraka Maṇḍala
