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

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Notes on Art
the Kalpa-sūtra dated in 1439 A.D., now in the National Museum shows a regional variety which is well-known as Mandu-style.68 of this style, but perhaps a better example, is the undated Kālaka-kathā of Punyavijaya collection in the L.D. Institute, described in detail by Pramod Chandra.69
A very richly decorated and typical example of the school of Patan is the Jamnagar Kalpa-sütra and Kalaka-kathā copied in Patan in V.S. 1558 = 1501 A.D. having beautifully decorated borders on each page, showing a large variety of themes of Jaina mythology, animals, birds, textile patterns, geometric and floral designs, mountains, etc., published by Moti Chandra and U.P. Shah.70 Border decorations of the Kalaka-katha in this manuscript are especially useful in showing costumes of soldiers of the saka army, the dress being obviously copied from that of the contemporary army of the Sultans of Gujarat. The paintings represent the full culmination of the fifteenth century style at Patan at the end of the century. The Devasāno Pāļo Kalpasūtra and Kalaka-kathā are generally assigned to c. 1475 A.D. and there are scholars who have suggested a much later date. Prof. Norman Brown who is said to have been able to see the now stolen last page giving the date, but who unfortunately could not remember it, suggested its date in the Akbar period on other grounds.71 The painter of the Devasāno Pādo Kalpasūtra72 did not fight shy of a drawing material for his decoration from carpets and textiles of Persian design. We must remember that the manuscript was copied (and therefore probably painted) at Gandhāra near Kāvi, Broach district, on the western sea-coast, where such
$8 Karl Khandalawala and Moti Chandra, A Consideration of an illustrated ms. from Mandapadurga (Mandu) dated 1439 A.D., Lalit Kaia, no. 6, pp. 886. 69Sce foot note 64 above. We hear that there was also a Kalpa-sutra with this Kalaka-kathā whose whereabouts are not known. It disappeared during Muni Punyavijayaji's life-time.
One more Kalpa-sutra in Mandu style was reported to have existed in a private collection at Calcutta. It is hoped that the owner will some day permit somebody to publish it.
To New Documents of Jaina Paintings, fig. 34.
Paining, pp. 24-26.55-57, figs. 26-29. More Documents of Jaina
"New Documents of Jaina Painting. p. 24. 1Moti Chandra and Khandalawala, New Documents of Indian Painting (Bombay 1969), pp. 29-43, pls. 5-7, figs. 45-96; Nawab, S.M., Masterpieces of Kalpa-sutra Paintings (Ahmedabad, 1956), figs. 1, 289, 338-366, 371, 220-223, 278, 354-357, 367-370, Illustrations from SMN4 in this book really seem to be those of the Davasāno Pado Kalpasūtra. Some pages of the Devasāno Pado Kalpa-sutra have recently been acquired in the National Museum while a few are in the Bharat Kala Bhavan, Varanasi and the Salar Jung Museum.
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