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PREFACE
WITH THE PUBLICATION OF THIS THIRD VOLUME OF JAINA ART AND ARCHITECTURE', one phase of our contemplated programme of research and publication in this field, particularly that part which relates to the commemoration of the 25th century of the Nirvåga of Bhagawan Mahăvira, achieves fulfilment by the mid-Mahotsava year.
In my preface to the first volume of this work, I dwelt on the difficulties encountered because of the magnitude of the work and the time-limit which we had to set for ourselves in view of the celebrations of the Nirvāṇa Year. That was only one part of the story. The other part relates to the technical side of the problems-types with diacritical marks involving extremely patient and careful proof-reading, quality of the paper commensurate with the cost that would not make even the concessional price prohibitive, or printing of the blocks, neat enough but not too fastidious to raise costs. A mean had to be struck. That naturally reflects itself in the production. But for the generous approach of the Trustees of Bharatiya Jnanpith, the price of each volume would have been, under the present market conditions, what it is for the entire set of three volumes.
If we have been able to stick to our schedule by overcoming formidable difficulties, it is because we had the support of Shri Shanti Prasad Jain, Founder Trustee, and the guidance of Shrimati Rama Jain, President, of Bharatiya Jnanpith.
Our mainstay in the execution of the project has been Shri A Ghosh, the Editor of these volumes in English. It is not only his hard work and meticulous care that have bestowed upon the work its quality, but his long experience in the art and science of editing such publications has solved many an eleventhhour difficulty.
Beholden as we are to all our contributors, we are more so to those who came forward to bridge the gaps that arose due to certain foresaken or uncovered assignments. With all our contributors, it has been a labour of love because they were aware of the fact that in the long run, this project would
