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Jain Education International
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
The idea for this book was conceived during a lecture-series that Prof. Dr. B. N. Goswamy gave on Pahari Miniature Painting at the South Asia Institute of Heidelberg University. During this fascinating lecture-series, wherein a lot of new material was introduced, The Rāmāyaṇa theme evolved as a subject for a possible comparative study.
Professor Goswamy suggested to have a closer look into the relationship of two specific series which at the first sight seemed to have a close link with each other. This book deals with these two series, i. e. a Basohli Rāmāyaṇa of ca. A. D. 1720 and the so-called 'Siege of Lanka' series. Most of the leaves that might have once belonged to these series, now preserved in various collections throughout the world, are discussed here with their stylistic peculiarities, their relationship to each other and their place within Pahari miniature painting. A catalogue of three major Rāmāyaṇa series, including the above two and a series from the Museum of Indian Art, West Berlin, with brief descriptions of each leaf is attached.
I am grateful to Professor Goswamy (Chandigarh) and Mrs. Dr. Anna L. Dallapiccola (Heidelberg) for their suggestions and guidance during my studies.
I am also thankful to Shri Chinubhai Sheth, Shri Shrenik Kasturbhai, Shri Dalsukh Malvania, Shri U. P. Shah, Shri Nagin J. Shah for taking up this book for publication under the L. D. Institute Series.
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