Jaina Rock Cut Caves In Western India Part 01

This book, "Jaina Rock Cut Caves in Western India Part 01" by Viraj Shah, published by Agam Kala Prakashan in 2008, aims to shed light on the lesser-known Jaina rock-cut caves in Western India, particularly in Maharashtra. While Buddhist and Brahmanical cave sites like Ajanta, Ellora, and Elephanta are world-renowned, the Jaina caves in the region, with the exception of those at Ellora, are largely overlooked.

The book meticulously documents approximately seventy Jaina caves scattered across the hilly areas of Western India. These excavations span a significant period of 1500 years, from the 1st century BCE to the 14th-15th century CE, with the peak period of activity occurring between the 9th and 14th-15th centuries CE.

Key aspects covered in the book include:

• Detailed Documentation: Each Jaina cave is documented in minute detail, recording its architectural, iconographic, and stylistic features.
• Chronological Framework: The book provides an analytical chronological framework, placing the caves within their historical context.
• Cultural Milieu: The study analyzes the cultural environment of the contemporary society, including patronage and the continuity of cave architecture by the Jainas until the late medieval period.
• Site Placement: The location of each cave-site is discussed within its physical and cultural landscape.

Nature of the Caves: The book notes that these Digambara caves, while largely plain and rough excavations in line with regional architectural trends (with a few exceptions of decorative ones), are rich in icons. This emphasis on icons suggests focused interests of the patrons. The excavations are situated against the backdrop of reviving trade activities and evolving socio-religious contexts.

Scope of the Study: The author acknowledges that the study is based on previously reported sites and does not claim to have explored the entire region. Further explorations might reveal unknown Jaina caves. Locating some of these sites proved challenging due to their neglect and being forgotten even by local populations.

Modern Context: The book also touches upon the contemporary efforts by Jainas to "develop" these ancient sites, which includes renovations like tiling floors, painting icons, and building new structures. The author expresses a hope that proper studies would be allowed before this heritage is lost forever due to these interventions.

Methodology and Illustrations: The research, initially submitted as a Ph.D. dissertation, has been updated with recent materials. Descriptions have been presented in a reader-friendly tabular format where possible, though detailed descriptions are sometimes unavoidable due to the objective of documenting these neglected caves. The book is richly illustrated with numerous line drawings of architectural components, costume details of icons, and photographs.

In essence, Viraj Shah's "Jaina Rock Cut Caves in Western India Part 01" is a comprehensive and detailed exploration of a vital but understudied aspect of Indian rock-cut architecture, providing crucial insights into the history, art, and religious practices of Jainism in Western India.