Gommatsara Jiva-Kanda (Sacred Books of the Jainas)

The mistakes in the content and style of this book are proofs of my incapacity to grasp and reflect even one distant, broken ray of the great Sun of Omniscience, from which this book and its contents rightly claim direct descent. In all humility, I beg to be pardoned for this; I am sure the indulgent learned will forgive an ignorant, humble admirer for his inevitable shortcomings. Indeed, all my Jaina writings are really the first notes of a poorly equipped student. I am not a Sanskrit or Prakrit scholar, and my excursions into Jainism have been few and occasional. But they have always been honest, concentrated, and guided by a soul eager and fully devoted to knowing the truth of Jainism.

My aim has not been to justify, defend, or even explain Jainism, but simply to record its tradition in its entire purity.

In conclusion, I must thank Jaina Dharma Bhushana Brahmachari Sital Prasada and Pandit Ajit Prasada for the unrepayable obligation I owe them for seeing this book through the press at the cost of so much time and trouble.

INDORE.
DIVALI (VIRA-NIRVANA DAY),
Vira Samvat 2453, November 1926.
J. L. JAINI.