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PREFACE BY MUNI SHRI JAYANTAVIJAYAJI
e to the second ed. Pof Tirtháraja Abú yi 17"
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... Mount Abu: and the faina shrines at Delvādā have been famous all over the world and many a Western .. or Indian student of:art or history has written about it but there was not a single guide-book in English or any Indian language. In V: S: 1985 € 1928: A: D: ), the first edition of this ( Gujarāti ): guide to Ābu was published, but since it soon went out of stock a revised and enlarged edition of the same was printed about six years afterwards... !
In the famous shrines of Vimala-Vasahi and Lūņa-Vasahi one is struck with wonder at the very fine chiselling of marble available in its ornamental carvings. These are some of the rare specimens of Indian sculptural art, prepared at fabulous costs. Besides being beautiful, the figures carved in relief in these shrines are records on stone of the dress, ornament, customs etc., of the society of the age. To the pious Jaina they have some additional value. Firstly, the figures of Tirthankaras and a host of minor gods and goddesses are objects of worship. Secondly, the carvings throw interesting light on the state of Jainism in those ages, as for example, on the dress of the Shvetāmbara sādhu, his use of muhapatti in the hand (and not tied to the mouth as is done by a later subsect of the Jainas, namely, the Dhundhaka-mata ), the type of danda or staff used by the monks, the method of performing the Chaityavandana, Guruvandana, service of the Guru by shampooing his feet, use of Vasakshepa, place of Sthapanacharya in front of a monk giving his discourse, etc,
illustrated in these caryings.--- .. The importance of these sculptures as specimens of art
