FACULTY
Viraj Shah is an archaeologist, specialized in ancient Indian art, architecture, iconography and socio-religious history. She has Master’s degrees in Ancient Indian Culture and Archaeology from Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune, and in History from Mumbai University. She earned her PhD in Archaeology from Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute (Deemed University), Pune. Her doctoral dissertation has been published under the title of ‘Jaina Rock-cut Caves of Western India’. Her post-doctoral research has been on temple institution in medieval Maharashtra and on archaeological remains in coastal areas of Konkan. She has published a number of research papers in national and international journals, and in edited volumes. Her research areas of interest are socio-economic-religious history, religious architecture, iconography, and pilgrimage and landscape studies.
Book:
- 2008 Jaina Rock-Cut Caves in Western India With Special Reference to Maharashtra, New Delhi: Agam Kala Prakashan
Research Papers:
- 2000-2001 An Unusual Nathapanthi Cave at Anjaneri, Maharashtra, Bulletin of Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute,Vols. 60-61, 355-366
- 2001 Jaina Caves of Maharashtra: A Brief Analysis in Jainism Art, Architecture, Literature & Philosophy (Haripriya Rangarajan, G. Kamalakar, A.K.V.S. Reddy Eds.), 362-372 Delhi: Sharada Publishing House
- 2001 Jaina Rock Cut Caves: An Architectural Survey, Architecture & Interior Digest of Pune, Issue-13, 48-54
- 2003 Jainism in Maharashtra: History and Development in KEVALA-BODHI Buddhist and Jaina History of the Deccan Vol. II (Aloka Parasher-Sen et al. Ed.), 242-265 Delhi: Bharatiya Kala Prakashan
- 2005 Marathe A. and Viraj Shah, Water Management Systems in Guhagar taluka, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, Man & Environment, Vol. XXX, No. 1, 67-78
- 2006 Paintings from the Jaina Caves of Ellora in MAHASENASIRI Riches of Indian Archaeological and Cultural Studies A Felicitation Volume in honour of Dr. I. K. Sarma Vol. I (P. Chenna Reddy Ed.), 286-306 Delhi: Sharada Publishing House
- 2007 Medieval Jaina Pilgrimage Centres in Maharashtra, Deccan Studies, Vol. V, No. 1, 138-156
- 2010 Siddhakshetra Mangi-Tungi: A Jaina tirtha in Maharashtra, India, South Asian Studies, Volume 25, UK, 75-90
- 2010 Jaina Rock-Cut Caves in Maharashtra, India, Jaina Studies, Newsletter of the Centre of Jaina Studies, SOAS, University of London, Issue 5, 33-36
- 2012 Pilgrimage to the Peaks, Maharashtra Unlimited, Vol. 1, Oct-Dec, 40-47
- 2013 Tradition of Austerity and Asceticism, Maharashtra Unlimited, Vol. 2, Oct-Dec, 48-53
- 2014 Carved Temples: Jain Caves at Ankai-Tankai, Maharashtra Unlimited, Vol. 3, Issue 3, 12-17
- 2014 The Power of Faith Nemgiri, Maharashtra Unlimited, Vol. 3, Issue 4, 34-39
- 2020 Patterns of Patronage in the Jaina Caves of Maharashtra in Rock-Cut Caves of Maharashtra: Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Archaeology of Maharashtra International Conference in honour of Prof. Walter M Spink, pp. 89-102 Mumbai: India Study Centre Trust
- 2020 Rock-cut Caves of Western India in Dilip Chakrabarti ed. History of Ancient India- VIII: Sculpture, Painting, Terracottas, Performing Arts and Architecture, New Delhi: Vivekananda International Foundation/Aryan Books International
Report:
- 2009 A Study of Temples of Medieval Maharashtra (11th to 14th centuries CE): A Socio-Economic Approach, Submitted to Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR), New Delhi for Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2005-2008