The Samayasara is one of the most high profile Jain texts, composed nearly two thousand years ago in the Jain Shauraseni form of Prakrit, by the learned Acarya Kundakunda. Over the centuries, there have been dozens of translations and commentaries based on this text in various languages such as Sanskrit, Dhundhari, Old Hindi, Modern Standard Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, English and Gujarati. Each new translation has brought to light new facets of this many-splendoured text.
 
Most translations have been extremely scholarly with some bordering on the recondite. It has been felt for a long time, that a simple, straightforward translation was required, which would remove the distance between the author and the reader; where the translator ensured that his personal views and thoughts did not interrupt the dialogue between Acarya Kundakunda and the reader. With this in mind, we asked Dr Jaykumar Jalaj to write a fresh Hindi translation of the Samayasara, in a language that is at once, lucid and accessible, but does not compromise on accuracy or on fidelity to the doctrine.
 
We are proud to present this work, tr. by Dr Jalaj and edited by Acarya Kalyanabodhi. In keeping with our founder's ecumenical views, this work by the ancient Digambara Acarya Kundakunda has been edited by the modern Shvetambara Acarya Kalyanabodhi. Valuable inputs were also given by Acarya Sunilasagara, Muni Amarakirti and Muni Amoghakirti.
 
What can one say of the Samayasara that is not already known to the rest of the world? Written in order to explain that the soul and body are different, and that the soul is eternal while the body is mutable, the Samayasara is the acme of Jain writings. It explains the entire Jain doctrine in succinct Prakrit verse. Our Hindi translation makes sure that those who do not know Prakrit are not deprived of the pristine teachings of Acarya Kundakunda, which are capable of changing our lives and making them spiritually fulfilled. Those who venture to walk in the footsteps of Kundakunda and heed his teachings are certain to attain emancipation.
 
We are are honoured to publish this work dedicated to the auspicious memory of Muni Samyamasagara  and Acarya Subahusagara, both of whom attained samadhi marana in Mumbai in 2011.