Book Title: Jain Shwetambar Conference Herald 1909 Book 05
Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Conference
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Jain Architecture.
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knowledge.
Even this day we are no less given to temple building than
before. Even the need of the upkeep and Need of Architectural necessary repairs to our grand and magnificent
temples is keenly and urgently felt. Through
want of sufficient Architectural knowledge we see some glaring inconsistencies or bad taste displayed somewhere on recent repairs which cost us great labour and expense, while attempting to restore our structures of early times. Often in the same attempts we substitute a style though not altogether wanting in picturesqueness but wholly deficient in decision and refinement characteristic of the older work. Modern Salats-our only architects and builders--we their
knowledge indirectly to our great works on Our present knewledge. Architecture of which they possess some Gujarati
abstracts for their guidance. They have also the teaching of certain Jain professors and the traditions handed down from father to son. Our present style of Architecture has become debased and compares unfavourably with the purer style of earlier and better days.
Causes of degradation. (1) Moslem oppression induced a loss of taste by prohibit
.. ing the buildiug of fine temples. Degradation of Art,
(2) Salats as a rule are somewhat jealous of the secrets of their guild.
(3) Salats are ignorant of Sanskrit and possess only rough untrustworthy abstracts of original works.
(4) Our Yati professors of the art read original works but they are content with instructing a few pupils in technicalities and canons of science. They are not builders themselves and they consequently take no more interest iu the matter.
(5) Old mechanical and artificial rules which prevented ignorant builders from violating all ideals of proportions in plan and profile are now really at variance with the progress of a living aud growing art. Man of genius and taste does not trammel himself much with these conventional details.
