This book, Studies in Jainism, based on Archeological Epigraphical and Literary sources, provides an authentic, critical and conspectus history of Jainism. Its contents exude thoroughness in every one of its articles, exemplary sincerity in marshalling the facts and careful presentation of conclusions. The salient features of Jaina Epigraophs, Art and Architecture and Iconography have been succinctly standardizes in this book. The contributors of Jaina Monks and Laity to the literary, cultural and economic growth of Andhra have been accurately adumbrated. The articles, ‘An Approach to jaina Ramayana;, ‘Were the Principles of Valmiki Ramayana identical with those of Jaina’, ‘Veerchand Raghavji Gandhi –a forgotten Jainist’ and Jaina Mentors of Mahatma Gandhi’ enhance immensely the value of the book. It is indeed an impeccable publication of great interest to historians, archaeologists, scholars and academicians too. The illustrations provide a fine glimpse of the subject before hand.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR G. Jawaharlal
Dr. Ghanta Jawaharlal, born on 15.4.1942 in a small village, Sitampet near Eluru in West Godavari District, obtained his M.A. degree in Ancient Indian History and Culture, from Nagpur University in 1964. He received his initial training from late Prof. VV Mirashi who was a doyen among the Epigraphists of India. In 1979, he obtained Ph.D. Degree from the same University for his thesis, “Jainism in Andhra†under the guidance of late Prof. A.M. Shastri. He joined the department of Archaeology and Museums, Govt. of A.P. in the year 1965 as Assistant Epigraphist and rose to the position of Deputy Director (Epigraphy). He also acted as Director, Oriental Manuscripts Library and Research Institute and retired from service recently. His work, Jainism in Andhra (as depicted in Inscriptions) was published in the year 1994, which happens to be the only book on Jainism in Andhra published so far. During his service in the Department of Archaeology and Museums, he gained thorough knowledge of different fields such as Epigraphy, Exploration, Excavations, Art and Architecture, and Iconography and contributed over 75 research articles on different aspects of Archaeological studies both in English and Telugu published in International and national journals of repute. He also attended a number of Seminars and Conferences. He was awarded a special prize for his work on Jainism by the Ahimsa International, New Delhi in 1998. He also received felicitation for his contribution to Jainism from Shri Bharatvarshiya Digambar lain (Tirth-Samarakshini) Mahasabha, Lucknow and the Jain Sangha, Hyderabad. He was also associated with late Shri Sahu A.K. lain who rendered invaluable services to the Jain Community and appreciated his work on Jainism which was almost ignored in Andhra. At present he is working as Archaeological officer for Shri Bharatva-rshiya Digamber lain (Tirth-Samra-kshini) Mahasabha, Lucknow.
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