More Documents of Jaina and Gujarati Paintings

SR No.: 001562
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Umakant P Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1976
Total Pages: 76
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Art
File Size: 15 MB

Page 26

another special study. The first and the last pages are illustrated here in figures 45 and 46 respectively. Fig. 47 is the only miniature in this manuscript showing a Kulādhra turjan. Figure 48 shows another full page illustration from this manuscript.
Paintings of the Rājapraśnīya, the Uttarādhyayana of 1591, and the Mātar Sangrahanī of 1583, the Bhāgavata Book X dated 1610 and 1598 and the Kāńkroli Balagopala-stuti have many common elements and can be definitely said to represent the Sixteenth Century Painting of Gujarāt. The relation of the N. C. Mehta GītaGovinda, the Pañcākhyāna (in old Gujarātī) of M. S. University of Baroda collection and of the single Bhāgavata folio from Kankroli is also obvious and since the Pañcākhyāna in old Gujarāti was very probably written in Gujarāt, we can also take this group as representing Gujarāti painting of c. 1520 to c. 1600 A. D.
The Caurapañcāśika (N. C. Mehta collection) the Bhāgavata page in the Madhuri Desai collection, the Bhāgavata pages in the Clevelend Museum published by Sherman Lee, and the Prince of Wales Museum Gita-Govinda from a group which, as Gray and Barrett suppose, could have originated in Mewār, and, we might add, in the adjoining territories of Idar.
A single page from a manuscript of Rati-rahasya, a text on Kāmaśāstra, is preserved in the collections of Muni Sri Punyavijayaji. It is reported to have been I discovered in Pāțaņ some 30 to 40 years ago. Both the sides have paintings of the
full-length of the folio (excluding the margins), neatly drawn in bright colours and fortunately well preserved. They are illustrated here as figs 58 and 60.
Fig. 60 (Size : right side picture : 10.5 x 7 cm., left side, 10.7 x 7 cm.)
Divided into two sections, each section illustrating the verse quoted on its top. The section on the right shows a disciple wearing a turban, white dupattā and red dhoti and taking lessons from a pandita wearing turban, white dupattā and red dhoti The teacher has long moustaches and his dupattā shows printed design. A cross-legged stand with a book atop is shown between the teacher and the pupil. Light green background: The second section shows two ladies standing with folded hands in front of a pandita wearing a turban, a dupattā, and a lower garment with a red printed design. The long pointed hair at the back of the ladies are noteworthy. The blue lower garment of the ladies has a pointed end. Ladies wear white Odhanīs with red designs.
Fig. 58 shows in the section on the right two persons engaged in a talk and wearing white turbans with black stripes, white scarfs and dhotī. The long moustache with curved end may be noted. Both the pandits have yellow complexion. The other section shows a lady sitting in a front of a cocoanut tree on the other side of which is beautifully drawn figure of a monkey. Some fine studies of monkeys are found in Jaina MSS. like the Mandapadurga Kalpasūtra in Baroda Jõānamandira collection (different from the Mandu style MS. in the National Museum), the Jamnagar Kalpasūtra painted at Pațaņ in 1558 and especially in the Campakadurga (Cāmpāner) scroll of Samyat 1490 (=1433 A. D.) published by N. C. Mehta. The monkey has a
17