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Publisher's Note BARSASŪTRA (KALPASUTRA) based on age-old illustrated palm-leaf and paper manuscripts bearing artistic letters in gold preserved in Jñāna Bhaņdāras of Jira (Punjab), Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), Ahmedabad, Idar, Baroda and other Jnāna Bhaņdāras of Gujarat was published in Shri Jain Kalā Sāhitya Samshodhana Series 16 in 1976 (Price Rs. 145). In a brief elucidatory note as a publisher, I gave an indication of a subsequent publication SADĀVASYAKA BĀLĀVABODHA (Shri Jain Kalā Sahitya Samshodhana Series No. 17) containing 147 multicoloured illustrations. This gave a pointed to my conception of another publication entitled The life of Lord Sri Mahāvíra with 168 illustrations with distinctive description of the life of Sramaņa Bhagawan Mahāvíra.
My well-conceived ideas of marshalling important pictorial material took shape in a differnt form in the momentous year of the celebrations of the Nirvāņa of Bhagawan Mahāvira by the publication of 'Tirthankara Bhagawān Mahavira' containing thirty five ornate paintings on the life and mission of Bhagawan Mahāvīra drawn by the well-known artist Sri Gokuldas Kapadia, an artist of great insight and inspiration, edited by Muni Sri Yashovijayji Maharaj and published by Jain Chitrakalā Nidarshan Samiti, Bombay.
This publication prompted me to search for original manuscripts of bold draftsmanship and refined treatment as to the best illustrated manuscipts of the Kalpasūtra of different Bhaņdāras, which are not only repositories of knowledge but provide numerous links in the history not only of Jaina painting of indigenous traditions but also the rich traditions evolving out of different schools of Indian painting. Before I could give shape to this much thought out ambitious project, I had a strange inspiration from a dream, which visualized at about 5. 15 a. m. two years before, providing me as it were a mandate, which dictated as to 'why don't you write and provide significant rich illustrations of the captivating life of Bhagawan Mahāvira, whose life and teachings have provided joy, inspiration and new life to the people all over the world'. This gingered up my mind. This has been the keynote of this publication depicting important events based on sumptuous illustrated old manuscripts detailing religious and ritualistic details of great importants to the mission of the world renowned benevolent Bhagawan Mahāvira and thus providing a background to the glorious heritage of Jainas, thus unfolding the rich culture and religious knowledge of India.
This all-important pious publication has been the result of the cooperation of erudite Jaina saints, everhelpful cooperation of the administrators of Jñana Bhandaras and Sri Jain Sangha. In a way, this provided a pointer that centuries old Jñāna Bhandaras have been preserved and handed over to the posterity to carry the spiritual communion and the artisitic heritage of the past.
The success of this endeavour is destined on the active support and encouragement I receive from revered Jaina saints, art lovers and the public. My experience of the past has always been fruitful and my endeavours have always been appreciated
Jain Education Intemational
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