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PREFACE
The L. D. Institute of Indology has great pleasure in publishing Treasures of Jaina Bhandāras'. Credit goes to Jaina Bhandāras for preserving, besides important Sanskrit, Prakrit and Apabhramsa works on all subjects - secular and religious, art pieces like miniature paintings, Vijñaptipatras (invitation letters to Jaina Monks ), scrolls, patas, artistic book-covers (pāthum), etc. Opportunity was seized to arrange an exhibition of all such antiquities from different Jaina Bhandāras of Gujarat on the occasion of the 2500th Nirvāṇa Celebrations of Lord Mahāvira under the auspices of Gujarat State Committee for the celebration of 2500th Anniversary of Bhagavān Mahāvira's Nirvāņa.' Exhibits were collected from different Jaina Bhandāras. But due to unfavourable circumstances we could not arrange the exhibition during the celebration year; it was postponed and was arranged in the L. D. Institute of Indology from 16.11.75 to 30.11.75. Visitors and scholars showed much interest in the exhibits and we had to extend the period which was originally of eight days. In order to make the material known to all interested in the subject, decision was taken to prepare and publish the catalogue of the exhibits, with the description of all and the photographs - coloured and black-and-white-of the selected ones. Dr. Umakant P. Shah, an expert in the field of Indian paintings and sculptures, gladly complied with our request and selected the items for photographs and prepared Notes on Art which bring out the importance of the items under description. We are grateful to him.
The importance of this work lies in the new vista that it opens. It reveals so many hitherto unknown paintings which throw a flood of light on the Art activities in Gujarat in Medieval period. It will fill up gaps and link up broken traditions.
We are extremely grateful to the Trustees of the following Jaina Bhandāras, who extended their kind cooperation to us in this task :
1. Jesalmer Collection, Jesalmer. 2. Hemachandra Jñāna Mandira, Patan. 3. Santinātha Jaina Bhandara, Cambay.
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