WORLD RENOWNED JAIN PILGRIMAGES REVERENCE AND ART
India
is the place of birth and development of Jain religion. It is based on the
principles of ahimsa, truth, non-stealing, non-possession and celibacy. For Jains, India is the most revered land, due to its many places of pilgrimages and temples, and writing of scriptures. The number of centres of Jain pilgrimages will run into hundreds, but this book gives the detailed descriptions and
photographs of those sixteen popular ones, which are considered as centres of faith and known internationally for their art and sculpture, and focuses on their sculptural aspects. These selected centres are located at Ranakpur, Mahavir ji (Chandanpur), Nakoda, Jaisalmer, Osian, Delwara-Abu, all in Rajasthan; Girnar, Shankheshwar, Taranga, Mehsana, Palitana all in Gujarat; Rajgriha, Pavapuri , Sammet Shikhar all in Bihar; Hastinapur in UP and Shravanbelgola in Karnataka. For each centre, the book provides a write up about its history and other aspects, and beautiful photographs of almost all portions e.g. the pillars, towers, dome, roof, walls, interiors, statues, idols, gateways, arches, stone grills, and a bird’s eye-view of the total complex. Centres of Delwara-Abu, Ranakpur and Jaisalmer are internationally known examples of art and sculpture, frequently visited by tourists. Those at Shankheshwar and Nakoda are famous as centres of devotion. Palitana is called a city of temples. At Jaisalmer and Osian we can see arts of remote antiquity. But one of the wonders of the world is monolithic statue of Bhagwan Bahubali at Shravanbelgola. This book has many extremely beautiful coloured photographs. It attempts to make art and culture of India reach, to all the people in India and also abroad. But there is nothing like physically visiting these centres. This book motivates the people to visit them one by one.