Bhogilal Leharchand Institute of Indology

The Mission:

The institute aims to enter into areas of intellectual quest, which have not so far been fully exploited. Jainism stands for the unity and equality of life. This truth has now been accepted by almost of all religions and intellectuals with a scientific temperament. Hence the idea of a synthesis between religion and science should be inculcated in the young minds.

The academic program of the Institute is to initiate, organize and give and give a fill-up to research in the following interdisciplinary areas –

1. Prakrit language and literature.
2. Religion and philosophy of the Jain community.
3. Manuscriptology, research methodology and epigraphy.
4. Indian Culture.
5. Comparative religion.
6. Non-violence, conflict, resolution and peach.
7. Yoga, spiritualism, and vegetarianism.
8. Non-possession and sustainable growth versus consumerism and environmental degradation. 
9. Elements of essential unity among world religions. 
10. Spiritualism as a universal religion. 
11. Comparative studies in religion, science, and philosophy.

Activities:

The Institute works on projects sponsored by Government/Public Sector Organizations/Non-Government organizations. Accordingly, BLII

• Faculties teach, guide and make available the references and books to the students, researchers and the Jain monks-nuns who come to Vallabh Smarak for their studies.
• Extends all possible facilities to the scholars from Indian and abroad, Jain monks and knowledge seekers for their studies and research in the field of Indology.
• Helps editing old texts of Sanskrit, Prakrit, Ardha-Magadhi, Apabhramsha, and Pali languages.
• Organizes Summer schools since 1989, under which one month-long summer school is held every year during the months of May-June.
• Convenes Conferences/Seminars/Workshops, time to time, on Prakrit language and literature, Jain religion and philosophy, Manuscriptology, research methodology and epigraphy and other areas of related Jainological studies.
• Offers Fellowships to scholars in Indian Universities for research on Prakrit texts, comparative religion, Prakrit language, Jain Art and Architecture, epigraphy, iconography, and studies of contemporary society, with special emphasis on a critical study of Prakrit language and literature and varied fields of Indology.
• Provides intensive instruction to students with a view to their absorption in various universities, college and government institutions.
• Has an ambitious research, editing and translation program for the publication of all ancient Prakrit canonical works, important commentaries, classics in Sanskrit or Prakrit, or mixed Prakrit and Sanskrit literary works.
• Endeavors through its extensive program of research and publication, to train a new team of dedicated scholars in the world of academics.

Summer School, Lecture/Lecture Series, Seminars/Workshops:

The Institute primarily works for the promotion of Prakrit Language and Literature. Prakrit occupies a place equal to none in the area of understanding the development of regional and state languages of the country through the ages. The study of Prakrit language is important to understand Vedic and Sanskrit literature. The use of Prakrit language in Sanskrit drama and poetry exhibits the growth of culture of the common people of India. Prakrit is the undisputed and undeniable proof of the unity and integrity of this nation. Hence the BLII aims at taking up the special studies in the field. For the past 30 years, the institute has been conducting Prakrit language and literature seminars. Students from various universities, Sadhu- Sadhvis and interested citizens take benefit of this unique opportunity. Nationally recognized learned scholars teach here. 

Every year a 12-day Workshop is conducted by famous scholars of Jainism on Vachak Umaswati’s Tattvarthsutra – a 344-stanza treatise is the essence of Jain tenets and philosophy. The Workshop is attended by university students from all parts of the country. 

Time to time BLII has also organized various National and International Seminars, some of them are:  Umaswati and his creations (1999); Mahavir and Non-Violence in 21st Century (2001); Indian Yoga tradition with emphasis on Jain Yoga (2006); Yoga Shastra of Acharya Hemchandra and Tribute to Shri Jambuvijayji (2010), and The Nature of ‘Life’ an ‘Death’ in different Schools of Thought (2016). Lecture/Lecture Series on various subjects including Manuscriptology and editing have also been conducted.

The institute has published 29 books, which include Studies in Sanskrit Sahitya Sastra (1983) — V. M. Kulkrani, Pancasutrakam of Cirantanacarya (1986) —Ed. Muni Jambuvijayaji; Jaina Bhasa Darsana (1986) — Sagarmal Jain;  Some Aspects of the Rasa Theory (1986) — Ed. V.M. Kulkarni; The Gahakosa of Hala (Vol. II) (1988)— Ed. V. M. Patwardhan; Prakrit Verses in Sanskrit Works on Poetics (Vol. I) (1988); Vol. II (1994); Apabhramsa Language and Literature (2012, Reprint) — Ed. H.C. Bhayani; Mahabharata Based Plays and Epics (in Gujarati) (1992) —S.M. Pandya; Santinathacarita (Prakrit) (1996) — Devachandra Suri, Ed. Dharmdhurandhar Vijay Ji; Arhat Parsva and Dharanendra Nexus (1997) — M.A. Dhakey; Jain Philosophy and Religion (2001, Reprint) —Tr. Nagin J. Shah; Jaina Theory of Multiple Facets of Reality and Truth (Anekantavada) (2000) — Nagin J. Shah; A Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Jaisalmer Jain Bhandaras (2000) — Ed. Muni Jambuvijayaji; Patan-Jain-Dhatu-Pratima-Lekh-Sangrah (2002) — Laxmanbhai H.Bhojak; Patanjala-yoga evam Jaina-yoga ka Tulanatmaka Adhyayana (Hindi)

(2002) — Aruna Anand ; Jaina Uddharana Kosa (Vol. I) 2003, Gangesa’s Tattvacintamani with the Commentary Sukhabodhika by Vacaka Gunaratna (2005) — Ed. Nagin J. Shah; Pancagranthi Vyakarana of Buddhisagarasuri (2005) — Ed. N. M. Kansara;  Studies in Umasvati and his Tattvarthsutra (2006) — Ed. G. C. Tripathi & Ashok Kumar Singh; Vol. II (2010) — Kamlesh Kumar Jain; Samavayangasuttam : A Jaina Canonical Text (Text with Eng.tr. variant readings, notes & append.) (2012) —Tr. & Ed. Ashok Kumar Singh; Prakrit Bhasa Vimarsh (2013)— Phool Chand Jain Premi; Studies in Haribhadrasuri (2014)— Ed. N.M. Kansara & G. C. Tripathi; Gandhi before Gandhi : Virchand Gandhi (2015) – Bipin Doshi & Priti Shah, Tr. Mahendra Jain “Mast”; Prerna ki Pavanmurti (Mahattra Sadhvishree Mrigawati Ji ka Jeevan Charitra in Hindi) (2015) — Ed. Jitendra B. Shah; Brihad-Nirgrantha-Stutimanimanjusha (2017) Part 1— Editors: Madhusudhan Dhaky, Jitendra B. Shah, General Editor : Gayacharan Tripathi; Yogabindu (2017) — Tr. Sadhvi Suvartashree Ji M. Sa., Editor : Jitendra B. Shah; Prakrit Vyakaran Praveshika (2012, Reprint) – S.R. Banerjee;   Prakrit Paath Chayanika (Elementary Course); Prakrit Paath Chayanika (Advnaced Course) 

BLII Library:

This a national treasure for learning Prakrit language. The Institute has acquired more that 30,000 printed books in its well-managed library. These books are mainly related to Jain and Vedic Texts and studies in various Indian languages, viz., Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali, Ardha-Magadhi, Apabhramsha, Maru-gurjar, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Bengali, Tamil, Oriya, Punjabi, Urdu, as well as foreign languages like English, French and German. Library also possesses Photostat copies of 1500 selected very old manuscripts of Hemchandracharya Jain Gyan Bhandar, Patan, which we could collect with the inspirations and assistance of Shrut Sthavira Muni Shri Jambuvijayji Maharaj. The Institute also receives about 50 periodicals, Journals on a regular basis, which include Jain Spirit, Jain Journal, Arhat Vachan, Titthyar, Shodhadarsh, Jain Siddhant Bhaskar, Shraman, Sambodhi, Sampiya, Vijayanand, Jain Bharti, Kalyan, Vedant Kesari, etc. Besides, the Institute publishes its own bi-annual research Journal “Parshada.”

Since the BLII has more than 26,000 manuscripts, Manuscript Conservation Laboratory was set up in June, 2000 for the repairing of fragile, brittle, termite/worm-eaten manuscripts. At present, the computerization of book-data is in progress. After completion of this task the readers would be able to trace the available titles with the help of various key words, viz., title, sub-title, author, translator, editor, commentator, publication series, publisher, publication place, year, etc. Afterwards, this will be made online at the website www.blinstitute.org .

Manuscript Resource Centre:

The National Mission for Manuscripts works with the help of more than 47 Manuscript Resource Centers across the country. They include well-established Indological Institutes, museums, libraries, universities and non-government organizations who act as the Missions Coordinating agency in their respective regions. They are primarily responsible for Survey and documentation of every manuscript in their area. As BLII is one of them, so NMM liaises with the Institute for awareness campaigns and outreach activities such as lectures, school theatre program and training workshops. So far BLII has recorded the data of more than 50,000 manuscripts. This data is available on the website of NMM, viz., www.namami.org

Manuscript Conservation Center:

The National Mission for Manuscripts has set up a network of conservation units across the country as Manuscript Conservation Centers (MCCs) including BLII. We have a team of trained conservators and specialists in the field of manuscript conservation in their institutes well equipped laboratories. MCCs assist a number of institutions in varying degrees to provide basic preventive conservation care for their manuscript collections. MCC also provide training in preventive and curative conservation to custodians of manuscripts all over the country and for this MCC conduct outreach campaigns to promote knowledge of basic conservation of manuscripts.

Directors:

The past directors of this Institute were Prof. N.R. Banerjee (Ex Director, National Museum, Delhi, 1987-88), Prof. S.B. Deo (Ex Director, Deccan College, Pune 1989-90), Prof. V. Venkatachalam (Ex Vice Chancellor, S.S. University, Varanasi, 1990-92), Prof. Laxmi Narayan Tiwari (Ex Head, Department of Pali and Theravada, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, 1993-96), Prof. Vimal Prakash Jain (Ex Head, Department of Pali, Sanskrit and Prakrit, Jabalpur University, 1997-2003), Prof. J.P. Vidyalankar (Ex Head, Department of Sanskrit, Hansraj College, Delhi University, Delhi, 2003-2004), Prof. Vimal Prakash Jain (Ex Head, Department of Pali, Sanskrit and Prakrit, Jabalpur University, 2004-2005), Dr. Balaji Ganorkar, Joint and officiating Director, (Ex Associate Director, A.K.G.M., Gandhinagar, 2005-2007), Dr. Balaji Ganorkar, Director, (Ex Associate Director, A.K.G.M., Gandhinagar, December 2007-April 2011), and Prof. Phool Chand Jain ‘Premi’ (Ex Head, Department of Jainology, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, Nov. 2011-Oct. 2013).

The present director, Prof. G.C. Tripathi, is Ex National Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, Prof. and Head of the Research and Publication Division, IGNCA, Delhi, and Ex Director, Sir Ganga Nath Jha Research Institute, Allahabad. He is in the office since October, 2013. 

The illustrious history of this unique conservatory:

There is a long history behind esteemed collection of handwritten manuscripts at the institute. The story dates back prior to independence of India. India was not yet divided into India and Pakistan. Venerable Acharya Shri Vallabh Suri Maharaj was residing in Gujaranwala (presently in Pakistan) for his chaturmas (four-month-long rainy season halt). The war for independence had created sectarian debates between Hindus and Muslims. But, Acharya Shri Vallabh Suriji was revered not just by Jains but also Muslims. For that reason, Acharya Shri believed that the Muslim brothers will not attack Jains or Jain religious places. But that wishful thinking proved to be illusionary. On a given day, the shrine of Atmanandji was torched and burned to ground. The news spread quickly. Acharya Vallabha Suri became distressed knowing that and he lost his faith in the Muslim brothers. Becoming the guardian he thought about securing the temples, idols Tirthankars, vast treasure of handwritten manuscripts, as well as, the lives of countless Jain brothers and sisters. 

One of the first measures, Acharya Shri undertook was to ask the shravaks, to bring all the idols to the passage between the temple and the upashraya. Thereafter, he had all the manuscripts and gold/silver ornaments of the temple put in the empty tea boxes. He got them laid next to the idols, and got constructed a wall around them in secrecy. This was done so skillfully that no one would suspect that it concealed treasures. Only after that sadhus and sadhvis along with remaining shravaks left the area to head for Amritsar. The journey encountered many obstacles, but with divine blessings they arrived safely in Amritsar. 

Initially, they thought that once the riots would come to an end, they will get back to the temples and their homes. But that was not to be. In fact, things got worst. The country was divided. Gujranwala became part of Pakistan. Now, bringing anything from Pakistan became virtually impossible. But, Acharya Shri’s mind remained occupied with thoughts of bringing back those literary treasures, till his last breath. But, this remained unfulfilled in his lifetime.

Later, Kasturbhai, Chairman of Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi, paid a major role in bringing back those treasures. The year was 1955. He contacted the then Governor of Punjab, Shri Dharmavira and Indira Gandhi, at first to determine whether, treasures were still safely tucked away or not. What was the upashraya in those days, had now a vegetable market in Gujranwala. Through political diplomacy Kasturbhai got the entire market emptied. The wall in question was demolished to reveal what was hidden underneath. By sheer luck, it turned out that everything that was buried had remained intact. 

The local politicians presented a bill for removal of the market and all associated work. Shri Kasturbhai quietly managed to pay all the costs and managed to have the idols, manuscripts and other items – everything shipped back to India. The manuscripts eventually came to BLII. Initially, Shravak Hiralal Duggad was entrusted to look after them. After his death, the work of indexing the manuscripts fell to three Sadhvijis: Suvratashriji, Shruyashashriji and Shruprgnaji under the expert guidance of linguist Shri Laxmanbhai Bhojak. As the time went on, small Pustak Bhandars in Punjab also merged their collection with the one at BLII. This way today there are almost 26,000 handwritten manuscripts in the BLII repository, some of which are extremely rare.

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