Contact
Contact Us
Here’s how you can contact us for any questions or concerns.
Address
Shrutratna Research Foundation
C/o – Shri. Yogesh Shah C.T.Shah & Co., 638, Sachapir Street, Camp, Pune – 411001
Phone
7744980256, 9325504030
shrutratna25@gmail.com
contact@shrutratna.org
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of “Śrut” (Shrut)?
Srut refers to the revealed knowledge, especially the teachings of the Tirthankaras preserved through scriptures.
In Jain tradition, Śrut means the sacred textual wisdom passed down through oral and written forms.
3. What is the meaning of “Manuscript”?
A manuscript is any document written by hand, not printed.
Jain manuscripts often contain rare commentaries, ancient teachings, and unique variations of scriptures that are crucial for research and critical editing.
2. What is a “Pāṇḍulipī” (Manuscript)?
A pāṇḍulipī is a handwritten manuscript, usually created before the invention of the printing press.
Many Jain scriptures were written on tāḍpatra (palm leaves), bhojpatra, cloth, or handmade paper.
4. What is the meaning of “Lipi”?
Lipi means script writing system.
Just like English uses the Roman script, ancient Indian knowledge was recorded in scripts like:
Brāhmī
Kutila
Śāradā
Grantha
Old Devanāgarī
5.What is the difference between “Lipi” and “Bhāṣā”?
Srut refers to the revealed knowledge, especially the teachings of the Tirthankaras preserved through scriptures.
In Jain tradition, Śrut means the sacred textual wisdom passed down through oral and written forms.
7. Why do manuscripts require critical editing?
Handwritten manuscripts may contain:
Copying errors
Missing lines
Variations between regions
Damaged or faded sections
Critical editing helps restore the text to its most authentic form using traditional and scientific methods.
6. Why are Jain manuscripts so important?
Because they preserve:
Ancient philosophical ideas
Original doctrinal meanings
Lost or rare textual variants
Social, cultural, and historical details of their time
Many manuscripts exist only in one copy, making them invaluable.
8. Why do scripts (lipis) differ across time?
Scripts evolved due to:
Regional variations
Cultural developments
Material used (stone, cloth, palm leaf)
Historical transitions
Thus every lipi carries clues to its time period and geographical origin.