History, Art & Architecture of Jaisalmer

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The blooming flower of the desert the city of Jaisalmer shines as a lone star in the sky of sandy waste. The city was built by Maharawal Jaisal in middle of the twelfth Century to become his headquarters. The fort with its high walls and round bastions bespeak of the valour and chivalry of the Rajputs who played significant role in the medieval history of India fighting the alien invaders.

In this excellently planned book, Dr. Agarawala has traced the history of the city from its beginning. The Vibrant hues of Jaisalmer reflected in its architecture the defences, places, havelis and the houses of common man edifying the meandering lanes of this medieval city is feast to the eyes of the connoisseur. Dr. Agarwala has taken pains to study in details the intricate geometric, floral and faunal designs depicted in the facades of the structures with an eye of an artist and one cannot but appreciate the skill and dexterity of the stone worker. The Most important endeavor of Dr. Agarawala is the study of the paintings murals and miniatures, beautifying the walls of the Rangamahals and palaces discovering therein a local tradition which he aptly calls the Jaisalmer School. The importance of the book is very much elevated by the exquisite line drawing of the carver's design and beautiful photographs of the sculptures, Structures and temples.

R.A. AGARAWALA (b.1942), a most unassuming scholar, who has already won great appreciation at the hands of such outstanding scholars in the field as the late Dr. Vasudeo S. Agarwala (B.H.U. Varanasi) and Shri Rai Krishnadasa (Hony. Director, Bh-arat Kala Bhavan, B.H.U), Obtained his masters degree in Art as well as in ancient Indian History and culture. He was awarded Ph.D. Degree for his work on "Material Culture in Rajasthani Wall Paintings" in 1968 and the degree of D.Litt.on his thesis entitled "Rajasthani Wall Paintings" from the University of Agra, in 1975. He has a rare privilege of receiving guidance on Art Appreciation from a very well known Art Critic, Prof. V. R. Amberkar of Bombay, during his stay at Sir. J.J. Institute of Art, Bombay, for all India sequential courses in Art in 1970-71.

Dr. AGARAWALA has held many positions in different national and international art organization and in various committees of a number of Universities and education boards. He is widely traveled man. Among his many books may be mentioned The Fundamentals of Art, marwar Murals and Evolution of Style in Indian Painting. His present scholarly work on History, Art and Architecture of Jaisalmer is perhaps unique in its field. Also he has contributed several research papers in foreign Journals of repute. He is presently on the staff of the Art Deptt. of Post graduate Studies and research in Meerut College.

The blooming city, Jaisalmer, is a landmark in the wilderness of undulating sands and scrub jungle of the Thar desert. Built in 1156 by Jaisal and named after him, this city of the Maharawals, had its own role to play in the history of medieval India, particularly that of Rajasthan, proclaiming to the world at large the valour and chivalry of the Bhattis. The fort with its embattled walls, bastions and gateways, the palaces and havelis within, replete with jähts and jharokhas, the Jain temples, the precious -collection of manuscripts of the Gyan Bhandar cannot but captivate the connoisseur and the scholar. The intricate stone carvings displaying geometric, floral and faunal motifs, the murals and miniatures in the Rangmahals and havelis, do speak of the skill and dexterity of the stone mason and the painters' brush. They are mute monumental vestiges of philanthrophic patrons under whose shadows art and culture in Jaisalmer thrived.

The contribution of the Jains reflected in the cluster of temples with crowning spires and beautiful sculptures is not insignificant. The Patua traders enormously rich and in a position to construct colossal havells of artistic grandeur, beautifying them with murals and paintings and patronising artists were responsible to promote art and culture in this city. Besides, the business acumen of these traders made the erstwhile State of Jaisalmer an economically viable entity.

The art and architecture of Jaisalmer is influenced by several trends, viz. Persian, Mughal, Hindu and Jain. This can be discerned in the monumental remains here. Yet in the sphere of paintings, murals or miniatures, Jaisalmer evolved its own individual tradition which for the first time has been discovered and dealt here.

**Contents and Sample Pages**