This volume entitled Jaina Art and Architecture is the first volume of the Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies brought out by the Parshwanath Vidyapeeth to present a complete picture of the Jaina religion in its various aspects. The Encyclopaedia will cover, apart from Jaina art and architecture, Jaina spirituality, religious culture, Jaina literature, sciences, ceremonies, festivals and customs.

The first volume, in Part 1, showcases Jaina art and architecture from the earliest time to the thirteenth century AD, collecting and collating the entire material on the subject in a chronological order, or thematic order where necessary. It discusses secular and religious buildings of the Jaina tradition in detail, referring to specific examples for scrutiny like the ruined Jaina stupa of Mathura, rock-cut Jaina caves excavated throughout the country and structural Jaina temples of North and South India. It studies the evolution of the style of Jaina architecture in a particular region. In Part 2, the volume deals with important aspects of the renderings of the Jinas on the basis of texts and images and iconography of other Jaina gods and goddesses. Giving examples from different museums of India and abroad, it delves into the process of interaction between the Brahmanical and Jaina cults where the iconography of the Yakshas and Yakshis is concerned. Part 3 explores a variety of Jaina paintings especially Jaina miniature paintings that deal with the life of the tirthankaras and legends pertaining to the life and teachings of Jaina monks. The volume also discusses the wall paintings available in Jaina edifices of Ellora, Sittannavasala, and other places.

The volume has been written by eminent scholars of Jaina art and architecture. The text is well illustrated with numerous plates and has a glossary of technical terms and a detailed bibliography.