Prof. Dr. Nagarajaiah Hampana
Sarasvatī, embodiment of knowledge, music and art, is entrenched in Indian psyche, irrespective of religious affiliation. Her images are enshrined in hundreds of temples. She figures in the Vedas, Upanishads, Mahābhārata and Indian literature.
Sarasvatī enjoys an unique place in Jaina tradition also where she is more popular as Srutadevatā, 'the canon goddess'. She is the concrete and deified form of the abstract Jinavānī, 'speech of (all the 24) Jinas'. She presides over the teachings of all the Jinas. Her worship is ancient, extensive and common to all sects.
The 'Spectrum of Sarasvatī: Śrutadevī' extensively deals with the genesis of Sarasvatī and Srutadevī. Prof. Hampana has discussed the depth and dimension of the cult with exhaustive and appropriate illustrations.
With gratitude unbound
Dedicated to
E.J. Brill
Leiden, Netherlands,
for helping the authors working in the field of Oriental and Indological Studies through its extraordinary publications
Publisher's Note
The 'Spectrum of Sarasvatī: Srutadevī, authored by Prof. Dr. Hampa. Nagarajaiah, has fulfilled a desideratum pending for a long time. The concept of Śrutadevī is unique to Jainism. Jainism has given prominent place to Sruta, knowledge. Therefore Śrutadevī always holds book in her hand, which represents canonical knowledge. The beads in the rosary that the goddess holds also represent the mantras. Dr. Hampana is a renowned scholar of Kannada, Prakrit and Sanskrit literature in addition to his mastery in Epigraphy and Iconography. His published books cover a wide range of topics. He has exhaustively dealt and discussed the rarity of Srutadevī, and the illustrations are a rare collection.
His Holiness Svasti Shri Chārukīrti Bhattāraka Pattācārya Mahāsvāmiji, who is the guiding spirit behind all our literary activities, is pleased to publish this monograph. We thank the author for providing us an opportunity to publish this important book.
Prof. Prem Suman Jain
Director
National Institute of Prakrit Studies and Research Bahubali Prakrit Vidyapith, Shree Dhavalateertham
Shravanabeḷagoḷa
