Development And Impact Of Jainism In India And Abroad

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Arham Spiritual Center

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JAIN IMAGES (IDOLS) OF INDIA IN MUSEUMS ABROAD
- Shri Nareshkumar Pathak Director - Kendriya Sangrahalaya Indore
Indian Axis have a significant status in the world. There is a magnetic impact of high standard of Art, Beautiful engraved Architecture as also attractive art pieces, on Foreign Tourists & Towers of Art. As a consequence, the demand for Indian Art Pieces were increased in Foreign Countries. Nevertheless, there was beginning of widespread arculation of Indian Arts, abroad, right from the second half of 18th century itself. It was that specific time span,. when a movement for Museum came into existence in the world. In 19th century, there was establishment of several important museums in Europe & America. In these museums there was display of Indian Art Pieces, that lead to the campaign relay of Indian Arts.
Prior to independence, many important Art pieces of main Art centres of the country were already sent abroad. No information is revealed as to the source of these Indian Art pieces exhibited abroad, But most of these Artpieces have adorned, the foreign museums much before independence.
Among collections of Foreign Museums and those of Art lovers, there are Art pieces of Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shaket, Buddha and Jain culture. Jaina artpieces are also exhibited in large numbers in Europe & America. Many scholars have also written in respect of these artpieces, but information relating to all these is not available at one single place.
There are various Artpieces at Museums abroad relating to Indian idols (images). Among them Idol images of Tirthankaras Cellestial. Beings (Deities) commanding Protecting Jain Administration (Shasan Devta), (Yaksha Yakshi) and several other Artpieces. Among idols (images) of Tirthankaras there are idols of Lords Adinath, Sambhavanath, Suparshwanath, Chandraprabhu, Shreyansnath, Vimalnath, Shantinath, Kunthunath, Neminath, Parswanath and Mahavirswami. These images (idols) are created by using Prastara and metals which represent different eras ages (Time slots).
Indian civilization and culture contained a very prominent place for Jaina Religion and Art. Jainism is considerably old as compared to the other sects like Shaiva, Vaishnava, Saket etc. Many scholars have studied and worked upon the origin, development and oldness (ancient) of Jainism. Scholars are making research of oldness of Jainism out of the relies of Indus Valley Civilization, which do not appear to be different from Aryan culture on the basis of Mythological context and other literary evidence. There is reference to Jain Saints, ascetics, monks in almost all the Mythological Scripts. Lord Rishabhdev was a Mythological entity. The principles established by him itself gave birth to (formed) a distinct Religion (Philosophy) in which all the Tirthankaras prior to 24th one i.e. Lord Mahavir were called Nirgranthas. Lord Mahavir has given a new shape and definition to prevailing Principles of
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