This Book in twelve chapters under two Sections the treatise presents the panorama of Jaina icons in their age-long growth, often with reference to comparable and borrowed concepts from the cognate faiths, Brahmanism and Buddhism. Though Jainism subjects in the belief in man’s elevation and emancipation by himself, and therefore, has very Little, the Tirthankaras, yet in the ages that followed, there grew quite a large number of icons with extra-normal features by the touch of the waves of Mahayana Buddhism and Tantric Hindusim. The volume has treated this development iconography with references to the relevant back-drop of literature,. It has taken into account the early forms, the Tirthankara images, studied their pedestals and followed them in their steady growth with the yaksa-yaksini-sushered, in Sasanadevatas. Of two very details. A chapter on the sixteen Vidyadevis, a creation of the Jaina genius, concludes the treatise, and thus fills the long panaorma of Jaina Iconography.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR A K Bhattacharyya
A renowned scholar in East Asian Art in addition to his contribution to the study of all branches of Indian art, Professor A.K. Bhattacharyya has made a mark as an art-historian since long. His other interests include epigraphy and numismatics in which he has well-known publications. One of his works on Aspects of Perso-Arabic Epigraphy of India has earned worldwide commendation. His visits to Japan four times since 1968 and upto 1980, include a stay for a year in that country on a Japan Foundation Fellowship which he utilized in visiting almost all places of Buddhist interest, studying temples and sculptures. He took special care to study the stone sculptures in the southernmost island, Kylshi, by personal visits to the caverns and the rock-cut images in the Oita Prefecture and a few other places. Back from the study-tours in the Republic of China and Japan, Professor Bhattacharyya was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship for his wide range of contribution to the study of the art of India and abroad. Among his works, A Corpus of Dedicatory Inscriptions for Temples of West Bengal; A Pageant of Indian Culture "Art & Archaeology; Historical, Cultural and Political Aspects of Perso-Arabic Epigraphy of India; Development of Buddhist Iconography in China, Korea and Japan from Indian Concepts; Buddhist Stone Sculpture of Japan; Thai Buddhist Iconography" Calcutta University on is dissertation: Studies in Jaina Iconography. Academically he has the most distinguished records and his linguistic equipment is the most unique in India, being a graduate in Arabic, and B.A. (Hons.) and M.A. in Sanskrit with a First class. He also secured the first class position in M.A. in Islamic History and Culture with Epigraphy and Numismatics as special subjects. He held important positions in India throughout his career. After being a Lecturer and Principal of Colleges for the first eight years of his service career, he served as Asstt. Curator, Archaeological Survey, Deputy Keeper and Keeper of Art Deptt. at the National Museum, New Delhi, Superintending Archaeologist in charge of the Museums Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India, and finally as Director, Indian Museum, Calcutta. On retirement, served the National University in the Republic of China as Visiting Professor.
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