Manohar Publishers and Distributors

20 July, 2012

Jainism: A Concise Encyclopedia

By- N.N. Bhattacharyya

Jainism is not a religion in the Western or semitic sense of the term, but in the Indian or Eastern sense, which is no more than a way of life that insists on cessation from violence, theft, lies, having possessions, or indulgence in sensual pleasures.

It is one of the six daily duties of Jain laymen to show compassion to all living beings and to help the needy. Four kinds of gifts are to be offered to the distressed – food (ahara), protection (abhaya), medicine (ausadha), and learning (sastra) – irrespective of faith, caste, or creed.

According to Jain belief it was Rsabhadeva, the first of the twenty-four Tirthamkaras, who taught men 72 arts and women 64 and initiated them into the Jain way of life. His mission of elevating the ethical and spiritual standard of mankind was continued and put into practice by the successive Tirthamkaras. In the hands of he last two Tirthamkaras, Parsva and Mahavira, the traditional knowledge derived from their spiritual ancestors assumed new form and colour. None of them claimed to be the founder of any system. They were great reformers who modified the entities of the existing religion evidently to meet the demand of their ages.

In the earlier phases of its development, the geographical boundary of Jainism comprised Anga, Magadha, Kausambi, Sthuna and Kunala according to the Kalpasutra. Orissa, along with the country around Ujjayini was also a stronghold of early Jainism. In the South the spread of Jainism is associated with the legends of Bhadrabahu and Candragupta. The latter is said to be a devout Jain who breathed his last at Sravanabelgola in Karnataka. By the end of the third century AD Jainism had taken firm root throughout India.

There are no comprehensive reference works on Jainism, one of the great religions of the world. This volume tries to fill this gap. About 2,500 entries in the work seek to provide and invaluable survey of Jainism from A to Z.

As an Indologist, N.N. Bhattacharyya requires no introduction. He retired as Professor of History from Calcutta University. A reputed scholar, he wrote a large number of books, most of which have gone into several printings. He passed away in 2001.

Jainism, Religion, Reference, India, South Asia, Reform Movement, Spirituality, Ethics Philosophy.

ISBN 81-7304-312-4 2009 308p. Rs.1895/ pounds 80

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Jagannatha and the Gajapati Kings of Orissa: A Compendium of Late Medieval Texts

( Rajabhog, Sevakarmani, Deshakhanja and Other Minor Texts)

By-Gaganendra Nath Dash and Rajan Kumar Das (eds.)

Lord Jagannatha of Puri, one of the most famous Hindu deities, was the rashtradevata of Orissa in the medieval period and became a symbol of Oriya identity in modern times. The esrtwhile imperial Gajapati Kings of Orissa and their successors, the Khurda Rajas, enjoyed special privileges in the cult as adyasevaka or ‘first servant’ of Jagannatha and even controlled it to a certain extent.

The present work consists of a comprehensive palm-leaf manuscirpt combining several originally separate Oriya texts of the fifteenth/sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, compiled by the Duela Karanas, the temple scribes of Puri, in the late eithteenth or the early ninteenth century. They provide first hand and most authoritative information on land endowments to religious shrines throughout the medieval Orrisan period, on rituals and duties or priests and temple servitors and, most important, on legendary and various hisotrical and cultural events during the reign of the Gajapatis.

The present compendium is a unique source for the study of the cult of Jagannatha and the culture and history of pre-colinial Orissa. Coming to lght for the first time, it may be regarded as the most important study of its genre after the publication of Puri’s temple chronicle, the Madala Panji, by A.B. Mohanty in 1940.

ISBN 978-81-7304-880-7 2010 230p. Rs.695/ pounds 50

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19 July, 2012

Historical Writings on the Sikhs ( 1784-2011 ): Western Entreprise and Indian Response

By- Prof. J.S. Grewal

Modern historical writing on the Sikhs started in the last quarter of the eighteenth century as a Western enterprise for purposes which were predominantly political and pragmatic, but nonetheless a part of the Western intellectual culture. Before the end of the nineteenth century, Indian writers appeared on the scene in response to this historiography. By now, Sikh studies are a common concern of the Indian and Western scholars.

The work is in six parts. The first two parts relate to the major writers till 1947, including Malcolm, Prinsep, Cunningham, Trumpp and Macauliffe. The Indian historians of the colonial period discussed in three parts include Latif, Banerjee, Sinha, Narang, Gupta, Chopra, Kohli, and Teja Singh and Ganda Singh. The expanding scope and the trends of Sikh studies are discussed in the last part which also gives a critical assessment of the recent controversies in Sikh studies about the basic issues of five centuries of Sikh history: life, mission and status of Guru Nanak; evolution and politicization of the Sikh movement under his successors; institution of the Khalsa; Khalsa way of life; nature of the Singh Sabha movement; issue of Sikh identity; and Sikh ethnicity after 1947.

The book will be of interest to historians of medieval, modern, and contemporary India as well as to scholars engaged in Sikh studies, and indispensable for researchers and teachers in India and abroad.

J.S. Grewal is former Prof. and Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and Director and later Chairman, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla

ISBN 978-81-7304-953-8 2012 544p. Rs.1495/ pounds 70

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Christian Themes in Indian Art: From the Mogul Times till Today

By- Anand Amaladass SJ and Gudrun Lowner

This book is a pioneering work presenting Christian themes in Indian art from the beginnings of Christianity in India till today. The authors have, in the main, dealt with paintings and sculptures, but have supplemented this with one chapter on architecture, particularly that of church buildings, and one on popular art, including stamps. More than 1,100 rare coloured illustrations make this publication a unique reference book. It is the first complex treatment of the theme done in the last 25 years. Special emphasis is given to artists who as Hindus, Muslims and Parsees have chosen to paint Biblical themes. Already in the 16^th century the encouraging and surprising encounter between European Christian prints and Indian miniature paintings took place. The Muslim Emperor Akbar invited three Jesuit missions from Goa to the Mogul court. Fascinated by European Madonnas and engravings, especially with Christian themes, he ordered his paintings to copy them in various ways. This was the start of a revolutionary fusion in Indian miniatures.

Most of the Bengali artists who were attracted by the human God Jesus and his agony are Hindus like Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, Nikhal Biswas, Arup Das, Suhas Roy, Suman Roy, Sudip Roy etc. The authors always give a short biography and then highlight his/her works connected with the theme. The late Muslim M.F. Husain, whose faceless Mother Teresa pictures became icons, is presented side by side with his close friends, the Hindu Krishnen Khanna, the Parsee Jehangir Sabavala, the Hindu artists Satish Gujral, V. Nageshkar, Anjolie Menon, Ramchandran and the Sikh sisters Amrita and Rabindra Kaur Singh. The Who is Who of Indian art history is presented from a new angle. Christian artists include the late F.N. Souza, who simultaneously hated and loved his Christian childhood God, and artists like A.D. Thomas, Angela Trindade, A. Fonesca, V. Masoji, F. Wesley (both by Naomi Wray), C.J. Anthony Doss, Alphonso Doss, S. Raj, J. Sahi, L. D’Souza-Krone, Sister Clair etc., all who stand for the attempt to incorporate the Christian gospel into the Indian culture. This original research includes many young talents too. An extensive Bibliography, Glossary and Index make this book an indispensable reference source for many years to come. Every library and individuals interested in intercultural encounter between India and the West in art, intercultural theology, dialogue and history must have this book.

Anand Amaldass SJ studied Philosophy and Catholic Theology. He took a Master’s degree in Sanskrit and a Ph. D. from the University of Madras in 1981. Since 1984, he is teaching at Satya Nilayam Jesuit Faculty of Philosophy in Chennai, now part of the Loyola (Autonomous) College, Chennai. He was Dean of the Faculty and Director of the Research Institute for Philosophy and Sanskrit. His area of research includes Indian philosophy and religion, aesthetics and interfaith dialogue.

Gudrun Lowner studied Protestant Theology and comparitive religion in Bochum, Wuppertal, Geneva and Heidelberg. Her Ph. D. was from Heildelberg University in 1997. Her thesis was on Religion and Development in Sri Lanka.

ISBN 978-81-7304-945-3 2012 428p. Rs.4000/ pounds 95

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Bhakti Movement in Medieval India: Social and Political Perspectives

By- Shahabuddin Iraqi

This well documented study brings into focus the picture of Medieval Indian society in different ways - the nature of relationship between the state and the Hindus; the mutual understanding between members of the two communities; different trends of Bhakti thought and movement and the interaction between the thoughts and practices of different Sufi orders and Bhakti cults. The detailed account of the literature of Bhakti Saints provided by the author constitutes a veritable treasure trove of source material on different aspects of medieval Indian history. Besides, an attempt has been made to trace the evolution of the Nirguna aspect of Bhakti movement with its aims and objectives.

The volume offers an in-depth study of the conflicting as well as cordial relationship of the leaders of different schools of Bhakti thought with the state and their approach to society, politics and administration. It also analyses the circumstances that led some of the spiritual movements to assume political and even a militant character. Much interesting evidence has been explored from the sources hitherto unknown in the preparation of this book. The work will prove to be a valuable contribution to medieval Indian historical studies.

Shahabuddin Iraqi is Chairman, Department of History and Coordinator of the Centre of Advanced Study (History), Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. He has been engaged for a long time in exploring and procuring source material in Hindi on History of Medieval India, and has published a number of articles bearing on the theme in reputed journals. He has written an edited several books, most recently, Medieval India 2 and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Vision and Mission (Manohar, 2008). The author has also prepared a standard text of the sayings of Kabir on the basis of contemporary sources and is at present engaged in finalizing for the press his monograph Kabir: A Reformer or Revolutionary.

ISBN 978-81-7304-800-5 2009 290p. Rs.725/ pounds 45

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Recent Debates in Sikh Studies: An Assessment

By- J.S. Grewal

Sikh studies in recent decades have been marked by a prolonged controversy involving most of the basic issues related to the Sikh tradition: the life of Guru Nanak, and the

Janamsakhis; the teachings of Guru Nanak, the nature of his faith, and his status in the history of religion; evolution of the Sikh community and its politicization; the Khalsa rahit and the doctrines of Guru Panth and Guru Granth; the history of the Dasam Granth, its status, and its importance in the life of the Sikhs; the Sikh tradition of martyrdom; the Sikh and Khalsa identity; tension between the ideal of equality and the presence of caste and gender distinctions in the Sikh social order; and the making of the Sikh scripture known as Guru Granth Sahib.

The author’s comments and his perspective based on his extensive study of Sikh history and literature, meaningfully moderate between the opposing views held by the Western academia and the Sikh intelligentsia. As a result, this volume becomes an exceptionally insightful introduction to the Sikh tradition. It is indispensable for all readers and scholars interested in Sikh studies.

Padmashree and a renowned historian, J.S. Grewal served the Indian Institute of Advanced Study at Shimla as its Director and Chairman of its Governing Body after serving Guru Nanak Dev University at Amritsar as its Vice-Chancellor and Professor of History. He has written extensively on Historiography, Medieval India, the Punjab and Punjabi Literature, and the Sikhs. His publications include Guru Nanak in History (1969); The Sikhs of the Punjab (1990); Sikh Ideology, Polity and Social Order (2007); A Study of Guru Granth Sahib: Doctrine, Social Content, History, Structure and Status (2009); and The Sikhs: Ideology, Institutions and Identity (2009).

ISBN 978-81-7304-883-8 2011 324p. Rs.895/ pounds 50

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Sikh Coinage: Symbol of Sikh Sovereignty

By- Surinder Singh

The Sikh coinage has a number of distinct and unique features vis-à-vis prevailing currencies in India. Almost every Sikh historian, European or Indian who wrote about Sikhs, has commented on Sikh coins, based on earlier accounts with some modification but without any examination of the coins which were readily available. These accounts have spread disinformation and distortions to such an extent that the few numismatists who examined the Sikh coins also succumbed to the historical fiction based on hearsay.

An attempt has been made in this study to correct various disinformations and distortions, e.g. the incorrect translation of the legends, incorrect nomenclature of Sikh currency, coins alleged to having been struck by the Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the name of a courtesan, coins struck by Hari Singh Nalwa in his own name, etc. From the evidence collected from detailed examination of historical accounts and meticulous numismatic investigation, the true perspective has been arrived at about Sikh coinage, in his pristine beauty and as a symbol of Sikh Sovereignty.

Sikh coins were first issued by Banda Bahadur between 1710 and 1713 and after a gap of almost half a century they were again issued from 1765 till 1845. In the field of Indian numismatics, Sikh coins in particular have received scant attention. Scholars and academics have been guilty of neglecting the subject. The present work attempts to fill this gap.

Dr. Surinder Singh, after a short spell as a research scholar in University of Delhi and as a Lecturer in Political Science, Government College, Gurdaspur, was selected to the Indian Defence Accounts Service, where he served from 1956 to 1987.

After retirement, Surinder Singh took up the study of Sikh coinage, of which he had collected over a thousand pieces, during the last few years of his service in Punjab.

He has published over thirty research papers in reputed national and international journals and books.

Dr. Singh is at present working on the ‘Concept of Sikh Sovereignty’ as a Senior Fellow of Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi.

ISBN 978-81-7304-885-2 2010 284p. Rs.495/ pounds 28