The Peaceful Liberators

Book excerpt: Jainism originates in India where it has been practised since the 6th century BC. The Jains have produced a diverse range of art that has been little known in the West. This volume is illustrated with examples from all ages, offering a comprehensive introduction to the art of the Jains and an insight into the practices, principles and beliefs of the religion. Pratapaditya Pal describes the different forms of art produced in each period: temples and shrines, wood, stone and bronze, illuminated manuscripts, monumental cloth paintings, architectural reliefs and votive tablets. The volume also includes an examination of Jain ritual and philosophical thought, an entertaining account of Jain pilgrimages and overviews of Jain cosmological painting and manuscript illustration.