Due to the central location of Gwalior in the country, it often been an important place strategically, politically as well as religiously and witnessed several political initiatives and military exercises. From the very beginning the place is regarded as a tirtha. Apart from the other religions, the glorious Jaina heritage of Gwalior forever is the attraction for pilgrims and art lovers. A long tradition of Jaina art and architecture could be easily observed in the fort and in various temples in the vicinity of Gwalior. Of them, the wonderful Sri 1008 Parsvanatha Digambara Jaina Bada Terapamthi Pamcayati Mandira (Svarna Mandira/Golden Temple), Purani Saheli Didavanaoli, Laskara, Gwalior was built in the 18th century, during the Scindias rule, while some of its art pieces are of much earlier time. The eminence of the temple is not only because of its inherent religious merits, religious dominance and socio-religious activities but also for its magnificent and unique architecture, rich and valuable collection of manuscripts, images, inscriptions, paper-paintings and above all marvelous wall-paintings that put it forward amongst the temples of the country. The prosperous collection of the temple includes 105 images of stones and metals and most of them with inscription, 10 inscribed metal yamtra-pattas, and 954 hand-written paper-manuscripts. Some of the folios of the manuscripts have the design of yamtra-pattas besides other drawings. Significantly, the complete painted manuscript of Nemicamdrika along with other paper-paintings are well preserved in the temple. This book deals with almost all the materials of the temple, which is spread over in six chapters. A large number of excellent colour illustrations heightened the quality of the book.
Contents: Preface. 1. Political background and temple architecture. 2. Sculptures and inscriptions. 3. Wall paintings. 4. Paper paintings. 5. Painted manuscript of Nemicamdrika. 6. Manuscripts. Index.
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