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PREFACE
Tamilnadu has a plethora of Jaina archaeological wealth such as Sramana caves, temples, stone sculptures, bronze images, paintings, epigraphical documents and manuscripts. They throw a flood of light on the socio, economic and religious life of the Jaina community and bespeak of the glorious heritage of the past. However, there is a paucity of published works on these potential Jaina archaeological vestiges. Hence, inorder to highlight the importance of the rich heritage of the Jainas of Tamilnadu and to encourage budding scholars to pursue intensive research on various aspects connected with Jainism in the southern part of peninsular India, a Seminar was organised in October 2004 by the Department of Ancient History & Archaeology, University of Madras in collaboration with the All India Digamber Jain (Teerth Sanrakshni) Mahasabha, Lucknow. Shri M.K. JAIN, M.Sc. (Eng.), M.S.(U.S.A.), the South Zone Working President of the Mahasabha, was very kind enough to bear the entire expenses towards the conduct of the Seminar and the publication of the papers presented in a book form, for which act of benevolence, I am deeply beholden. I am also thankful to the authorities of the University of Madras for having given permission to publish this work.
The present volume contains ten research papers presented by scholars in the seminar on different aspects of Jaina archaeological heritage of Tamilnadu. I am sure, this work will be a welcome addition to the study of Jainology and Archaeology as well.
Jain Education International
A. Ekambaranathan
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