Acharya Jinasena and Achrya Gunabhadra (9th century) have a unique place in Indian literature, particularly in Jaina Sanskrit literature. The Mahapurana composed by them, which describes the lives of sixty-three shalakapurushas (divine personages), is an important treasure of Jaina Purana literature. The whole work is divided into two parts. The first part called Adipurana has been published by the Bharatiya Jnanpith in two huge volumes. Along with the virtuous lives of the first tirthankara Rishabahnatha and Bharata and Bahubali, the Adipurana written by Acharya Jinasena throws extensive light on the basic sources and development of Indian culture and history.
Written by Acharya Gunabhadra, Uttarapurana is the second part of the Mahapurana. Barring Thirthankara Adinatha and Bharata, it contains description of the lives of the remaining twenty-three tirthankaras, eleven chakravartis (emperors), nine Balabhadras, nine Narayanas, nine Pratinarayanas and different kings of the times and puranapurushas (ancient personages).
This voluminous work has been edited by the pre-eminent scholar of Jaina religion and philosophy and Sanskrit literature, Dr. Pannalal Jain. Along with original Sanskrit text and its Hindi translation, it also contains glossaries of technical and geographical terms as well as individual names. This makes it an essential work for researchers, particularly those engaged in a creative study of Puranic and poetic literature, to read. We present hereby a new edition of the work.
This book is in Sanskrit with Hindi Translation.
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