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Publisher's Note
The Bharatiya Inanpith has over the years developed an extensive collection of about 15,000 photographs of Jaina antiquities. This has been done to build a systematic, comprehensive photographic record of ancient and medieval Jaina art, architecture, paintings, epigraphs etc. drawn from both public and private collections in India and abroad. These antiquities have made a significant contribution to our cultural heritage. These art objects pertain to the period from the Mauryan age to the close of the eighteenth century. The Universities and other academic institutions are aware of this rich collection and their research scholars have been consulting it for their work according to their requirements.
On the suggestion of some scholars we have planned a series of small monographs on Jaina deities. The present volume is the first of that series. Similar monographs of Pārsvanatha, Bahubalin, Sarasvati, Padmavati and others are contemplated. It is sometimes felt that even the surface of the rich historical and authentic information available on Jaina art has not been scratched. Such studies would be a small effort to let this information reach the interested readers.
The Bharatiya Jnanpith is grateful to Dr. Maruti Nandan Prasad Tiwari for his lucid and succinct treatise on Ambikā. His deep and wide scholarship is writ large on this work. Our thanks are also due to the scholars, archaeologists and philanthropists who have variously helped us in our programme. Shri Gopilal Amar and Dr. Gulab Chandra Jain of the Jnanpith staff have helped Dr. Tiwari and have worked hard to bring out this volume.
New Delhi
15th March, 1989
B.N. Tandon Director
