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There are a number of illustrated Jaina Rāsas and Kathā works which are still unpublished. These are important documents from various points of view and I hope the different universities will encourage research theses on such subjects.
Study of Jaina bronzes is a very attractive field. The contribution of Jainism in this field is very great. I had the good fortune to publish studies of the hoards of Jaina bronzes from Akota, and Vasantagadh and some interesting bronzes from Patan, Cambay, Surat, Chausa, Lingasur, and places in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Karnataka etc. At present I am engaged in bringing out a monumental work on Jaina Metal Images on the lines of Sivaramamurti's famous work on South Indian Bronzes. Incidentally I may add that Dr. Debala Mitra has published a hoard of interesting Jaina bronzes from Acyutrajapur in Orissa. Thousands of Jaina bronzes exist and are in worship in Jaina temples all over India and it is impossible in one lifetime to make an exhaustive survey of all of them just as it is impossible for one individual to make an exhaustive survey of all the Jaina stone sculptures from all over India. I have therefore refrained from drawing certain types of conclusions even in my works and articles on Jaina Iconography. However, I am criticised for having omitted to study this and that temple or sculptures or for not drawing certain types of conclusions. I had no energy and means and time to exhaust a study of all Jaina images from all parts of India.
I wish to sound here a note of warning. Several trustees of Jaina temples all over India have not registered the Jaina bronzes in worship in temples under their management. In absence of registration or publication by some scholar it is impossible to establish ownership of a stolen bronze or sculpture or painting. Since the publication of some fine Jaina bronzes during the last 35 years, art lovers and museum curators all over the world are now interested in Jaina bronzes. Dealers in antiquities have realised the value of Jaina paintings and sculptures and bronzes. Thefts of Jaina antiquities from temples and Bhandaras have naturally increased. It is therefore advisable that all Jaina antiquities are registered with the Archaelogical departments in their respective regions.
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