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Publisher's Note
We are delighted and indeed feel satisfaction in publishing a monograph on the OSHIYA (Osiyāṁ) TĪRTHA, considered one of the more impressive and ancient among the Jaina places of pilgrimage. A fair number of ancient Jaina temples in India are well-known for their glorious history as well as the splendours of their sculpture and architecture. And Oshiya is one of them.
A suggestion had come from Professor Vasavada to establish a project of publishing monographs of such ancient Jaina places which have interesting history and possess buildings of consequence for their art and architecture. This is how the first monograph of the Project, on the Oshiya temple complex to be precise, has come into being. Its famous main temple to Jaina Mahāvīra is today the very few examples of the surviving early Jaina temples in all of western India.
Professor Vasavada in his first assignment has prepared the monograph on Oshiya temple ensemble. In the process of actual operation, we received coöperation from the Temple Administration and A. K. Trust. The secretary of the Institute, Shri Shrenikbhai, also took personal interest from the very start of this Project. Not only that, he provided guidance and suggestions to make the publication a quality production. Professor Dhaky also extended necessary academic guidance to make this Project a success. We are grateful to them for their encouraging and insightful help. Despite busy schedules and several other commitments, Professor Vasavada completed this work in the best way within a short period. He is well-known as a learned scholar and a teacher in the field of architecture. What is more, he also worked out a plan to protect this building of historical importance. The Publishers of this monograph, therefore, wish to extend special thanks for all the pains he took and care bestowed upon the production.
We may, as a closing note and indeed gratefully, record that for this project we received the financial support from Smt. Lilavati Lalbhai Trust. Without such a support, the work could not have been accomplished. We, therefore, wish to thank the Trust as well as all the Trustees for their generous help. At the other end, we would want to thank the computer operators M/s. Akhilesh Mishra and Purviben Shah and also the veteran proof-reader Shri Naranbhai Patel for their help. In that context, our thanks are largely due to Sharadaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre which allowed its aforenoted technical personnel to do the laser-printing and concomitant details.
J. B. Shah
Jain Education International
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