Arama Viharaand Mahavihara

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It is somewhat hard to realize that such an important and valuable monograph Arama, Vihara and Mahavihära written by Gustav Roth and published by Bauddha Sanskritik Kendra, Patna in 1997 is unavailable to the scholars working on Buddhism and the academic world in general. Gustav Roth hardly needs any introduction. His collective works numbering about 243 in five languages are well known. Bhikshuni-Vinaya (manual of discipline for Buddhist nuns) including Bihkşhunī Prakirnaka and a summary of the Bhikshu-Prakirnaka is a magnum opus of the Arya-Mahāsānghika-Lokottara-Vadin-School.

Born on 21 January 1916 in Silesia(Germany), Gustav Roth took keen interest in Indology, especially Jainism and Buddhism. Beginning his journey to India in 1972 on a Government of India scholarship, he subsequently visited India several times and stayed for long in Patna and Bihar (1952-1959). During his stay, he developed close contacts with the Department of Ancient Indian History and Archaeology, Patna University, the Bihar Research Society, K.P. Jayswal Research Institute and Khuda Baksh Oriental Library in Patna, and Shri Nava Nālanda Mahāvihāra, Nälandä. In 1956, he joined the ongoing excavation in Kumhrar being carried out by the team of the Department of AIH & Archaeology of Patna University. In the year that followed, he also took part in deciphering Buddhist Sanskrit manuscripts brought by Mahapandita Rahula Sankritayana from Tibet.