Treasures of Jaina Bhandaras

SR No.: 001583
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Umakant P Shah, Dalsukh Malvania, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1978
Total Pages: 274
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Art
File Size: 19 MB

Page 36

Notes on Art
decorated with a flowering creeper-design. To his right is a small attendant pupil. On top of the torana are two peacocks painted blue. The back--rest is also blue. Figure 32, representing, in two panels, male devotees, nuns and Śrāvikās, each with folded hands, is another beautiful miniature from this manuscript with minutely drawn designs and details. Fig. 33 represents an ācārya giving lessons to his pupil sitting in front and holding a long palm-leaf ms. Very little colour is used in the complexions of the monks and a slight attempt at shading is visible. The painting is remarkable for delicacy, and fine drawing. This manuscript is an important dated document of the first decade of the fifteenth century A.D. Another ms. of Pārsvanatha-caritra, (old DA. no. 30, new DA. no. 74), dated in V.S. 1479=1422 A.D. shows profuse use of gold in body colours. The background is red, but the golden bodies are sometimes partly shown against blue. DA, no. 106 (old DA. no. 60) is a manuscript of Kalpa-sūtra and Kalaka-kathā copied in V.S. 1498=1441 A.D. in Ahmedabad, by one Somasimha, son of Mantri Kupā. DA. no. 45 of Candraprabha-caritra (Cat. no. 447, p. 73) is an interesting document copied in V.S, 1489=1432 A.D. at Patan. A figure of an ācārya (monk) giving discourse, and sitting on a stool with a back-rest, painted on folio 2, is executed by a skilled artist. The slightly bent head of the acārya (figure 35) very aptly conveys his action of giving a discourse. The painting is slightly damaged, possibly due to some water action on the colours. DA. no. 9 is a manuscript of Samyak tva-Kaumudi (Cat. no. 441, p. 72) copied in V.S. 1479--1422 A.D.58 The painting of a Ganadhara from this manuscript, illustrated in Colour pl. II, fig. D, is a good specimen showing the use of light reddish pink in body colour and ultramarine in the background. Two beautiful white swans appear on top of the stepped pyramidal roof of the shrine under which the Ganadhara is shown seated in Vyakhyāna mudrā, and Padmāsana. DA. no. 20 is a manuscript of Pāndava-caritra-mahakävya, copied in V.S. 1490=1433 A.D. at Selaguntha. The place of copying could not be identified. On folio 1 there is a painting of a Tirthankara, and on folio 2 is a miniature painting of Sarasvati or Śrutadevatā illustrated in figure 36. The goddess carries the book in her right upper hand, and the lotus in the corresponding left hand; the right lower hand is
58 In the Cat. no. 441, p. 72, given at the end of this book, the date of copying is printed as V.S. 1409 through mistake. It has been verified as V.S. 1479,