Jain Books Available in USA

From: Navrang

THAPLYAL, Kiran Kumar
Jaina paintings. Delhi: Wiley Eastern, 1995. 83p.
painting. append. ISBN: 81-224-0687-4. $74.95 (HB)

COOMARASWAMY, Ananda K
Jaina art. Delhi: Munshiram, 1994. 120p.
61b/w ills. 5col. ills. ISBN:81-215-053909. $29.95

PRASHAD, Sital
A Comparative study of Jainism and Buddhism.
Delhi: Indian Book Centre, 1995. $14.95

NATH, R
Jaina Kirtti-Stambha of Chittorgadh (C. 1300 A.D.).
Jaipur: The Historical Research Documentation Programme. 1994. 96p. figs. 17 B & W plates. ISBN: 81-85105-22-7. $12.95

SHAH, Chimanlal J.
Jainism in North India 800 B.C.- A.D. 526. Delhi: A Sagar, $22.50

THOMAS, E. J
Jainisam or the early faith of Ashoka, with illustrations of the ancient religions of the East,
from the Indo-Scythians. Delhi: Asian Educational Services, 1995. 19877 London edn. reprint. 90p. ISBN: 81-206-0980-8. $10.95

GUPTA, Pushpa
Rasa in the Jaina Sanskrit Mahakavyas, from 8th to 15th century A.D.
with an Introd by Dayananda Bhargava. Calcutta: Punthi Pustak, 1993. 1st ed. $29.95

JAIN, Jagadish Chandra
Studies in early Jainism : Selected research articles.
Delhi: Navrang, 1992. 241p. Bib. ref. index. ISBN: 817013076X. $22.50

GUNABHADRA
Atmanushasana : Discourse to the soul edited with translation & commentaries by J.L. Jaini.
Delhi: Today & Tomorrow's, 1991. 75p. (Sacred book of the Jainas V.7). $10.95

SHARMA, J. P.
Jaina Yakshas. Jodhpur: Kusumanjali, 1993. 128p. 27 line drawings. $10.95

SHARMA, Krishna Gopal
Early Jaina inscriptions of Rajasthan. Delhi: Navrang, 1993. 129p. Bib. ref. index. ISBN: 8170130816. $12.95

SINGH, Ramjee
Jaina perspective in philosophy and religion. Varanasi: Classical Pub, 1993. viii, 271p. index. (Parsvanath sodhapitha Gr.64). ISBN: 81-7054-084-4. $9.95 (PB)

From SOUTH ASIA BOOKS. Ask for their complete list of Jain books.

Jaina Path of Purification. Recommended
Jaini. Motilal, rep. $18.50

Jain Philosophy, Historical Outline.
NN Bhattacharyya. Munshiram, rep. $16

Vegetarian Wonders from India. Pandya.
Indus. many color plates, gloss. $14

At amazon.com search for "Jainism"

Jain Tatva Mimansa, Siddhantacharya Phoolchandra Shastri (Hindi)
440 pages, US $10 + $5 mailing
Send check to:
S.P.P.S. Foundation
C/O Jalaj Jain
12, Warton Place
Garden City, NY 11530-3019
U.S.A.

Book Distributers


India:

Mr Harish Chandra, Director
Biblia Impex Pvt. Ltd
1 / 18 Ansari Road
New Delhi 110 002
INDIA

Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited
Bungalow road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi -110 007
Fax: 11-545-7221

Europe:
Motilal Books
73 Lime Walk
Hedington, Oxford OX3 71D
UK

        There are six highly recommended books that together form an 
excellent literary introduction to Jainism and the Jain way of thinking.  
The following list of books incorporates a number of salient points of 
view, and they would be especially good for those not raised as Jains:

	"Religion and Culture of the Jains" by Jyoti Prasad Jain (1983, 
Bharatiya Jnanpith) will provide an orderly and clear exposition of 
Jainism as a philosophy and way of life, Jain history, and the Jains as a 
people.  It is important to understand the latter two to understand the 
conditions under which Jains have survived and maintained and practiced 
their religion.

	The "Jain Path of Purification" by Padmanabh Jaini (University of 
California Press, 1979) was, in addition to the previous work, one of the 
very first books of its kind to be authored by a Jain for the education 
of those unfamiliar with the Jain worldview and way of life.  It is 
perhaps the most comprehensive and concise book of its kind, and few 
books on Jainism are as appropriate for academic instruction as Jaini's.

	"Guidelines of Jainism" by Muni Bhadrabahu Vijay (1986) is an 
authoritative handbook of sorts composed in a question-answer format.  
The highly experienced author provides practical and succinct answers to 
many common questions asked about Jain philosophy, conduct and day-to-day 
living.  

	"Life Force:  The World of Jainism" by Michael Tobias (1991:  Asian 
Humanities Press) explains the Jain perspective on life from the point of 
view of someone whose life was affected by Jainism, but who was not 
raised as a Jain.  This may be particularly interesting to those who are 
in the same boat.

	"Jainism in Western Garb (As a Solution to Life's Problems)" by 
Herbert Warren (1913) explains the philosophical basis of Jainism from a 
Western European's point of view.  Warren learned much about Jainism from 
Virchand R. Gandhi, who was a scholar of the highest order.  The author 
was also deeply affected by the Jain teachings.

	Finally, for an authoritative scriptural perspective on the soul 
and the meaning of life, study the "Samayasara" ("Treatise on the Self") 
written by Acharya Kundakunda in the first century, A.D.  Perhaps the 
best translation and commentary was that of Anand Chakravarti which was 
published by Bharatiya Jnanpith (1971).  This version contains a superb 
introduction which examines the views of some of the more famous Western 
philosophers.

	Together, the six of these works can facilitate a sound 
understanding of Jainism for one who knows nothing about it and the 
Jains.  They would probably be kept by a large university library.  
Virchand R. Gandhi, the representative of Jainism at the 1893 Congress of 
World Religions (Chicago) and the first Jain to set foot on North 
American soil, also wrote some of the best works on Jainism in the 
English language.  

Amar Salgia



Books recommended:

-"Jain Path of Purification" by Padmanabh Jaini (University of California
Press, 1979) (Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1990) recommended 5 times
-"Guidelines of Jainism" by Muni Bhadrabahu Vijay (1986)
-"Life Force: The World of Jainism" by Michael Tobias (1991:  Asian
Humanities Press)[The wonderful book that originally turned me on to Jainism]
-"Jainism in Western Garb (As a Solution to Life's Problems)" by Herbert
Warren (1913)
-"Samayasara" ("Treatise on the Self") written by Acharya Kundakunda in the
first century, A.D.  Perhaps the best translation and commentary was that of
Anand Chakravarti which was published by Bharatiya Jnanpith (1971).
-"Scripture and Community, Collected Essays of the Jains"; by Kendall Folkert
(ed. John E. Cort) (Scholar Press,1993) recommended 2 times.
-"Gender and Salvation", by P. Jaini
-"The Jains" by Paul Dundas (Routledge and Kegan Paul ,1992). recommended 2
times.
-"Jaina Yoga" by Robin Williams
-"The Circle of Listeners" Carrithers and Humphrey's (Oxford or Cambridge)
-An English translation of Umasvati's Tattvartha Sutra (That Which Is) has
also been recently published by Harper Collins.(ISBN 0-06-068985-4)
-Try searching the web for the Young Jains of/in America site. The site
prvides a listing of books and other research materials on Jainism.

Periodicals recommended:

-Jain Study Circular published quarterly by the Jain Study Circle in New
York. Subscriptions are $10 outside NorthAmerica (Use an international money
order. They will not accept cheques drawn on foreign banks). Their address
is: Jain Study Circle,99-11 60 Avenue, #3D, Flushing NY 11368-4436
-`Jain Digest' (like Reader Digest)
-`Jinamanjari' published twice a year, October and April. Subscriptions are
$15.00 a year, and can be obtained from the Editor-in-Chief, S.A.Bhuvanendra
Kumar, 4665 Moccasin Trail, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L4Z 2W5.
-Jain Journal published from Jain Bhavan , Kalakar St.,Calcutta 700007,
India. 
-Jaina Antiquary (address needed)

From:  Shilpa Shah,shilpa@utkux.utcc.utk.edu,Internet Email; 
My dad has an extensive library of English books on Jainism that he sells at
cost and mails to all over the world.  His name is Pravin Shah.  You can
e-mail him at enhb34a@prodigy.com.

Robert L. Seltman