Cultural Study of Nisitha Curni

SR No.: 001743
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Madhu Sen
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 432
Language: English, Prakrit
Classification: Book_English, Agam, Canon, & Literature
File Size: 23 MB

Page 289

FINE ARTS
269
even by touch.1 (ii) Images carved out of ivory (hatthidamta ) were of the medium grade. These also were delicate in nature and appearance and could be easily spoiled. 2 (iii) Images carved out of stones like mani sila (red-stone ) were the best. These were soothing to touch and were not spoiled easily. 8 Evidently different materials were used for making images. This corroborates Smith's observation that "small portable images of the saints are made of crystal, alabaster, soap-stone and various other materials, while the larger ones are carved from whatever kind of stone is locally available»t and that "the Jainas delighted in making their images of all materials and sizes".0 I-Tsing also mentions that various types of materials like gold, silver, copper, iron, clay and stones were used. for making images. Painting
Like sculpture the art of painting was also practised for religious as well as secular purposes. Paintings having sacred objects as well as erotic scenes have been mentioned in the text. The art of painting was known as citta-kamma.? Like the images of gods, the paintings of gods and goddesses were also a favourite theme of the paintess ( citrakaras ).8
The walls of the houses were sometimes painted with erotic scenes ( sacittakammā vasahi ) depicting the vorious objects relating to marriage like vasagrha. This practice of having
1. F oyful ata asta fa al Tits vej tecupA-NC. 4, p. 6. 2. Figu efica witeit FT AFHAT, ET EHITACHI, 34219 THT:--Ibid. 3. #forfitates FT RITE AT 571AT, ATA ATATTUTT 3ettuat 7–Ibid. 4. Smith, V. A., History of Fine Arts in India and Ceylon, PP. 267-68. 5. Walhouse, quoted by Jaina, J. p., Jaina Sources of the History of
Ancient India, p. 230. 6. Takakusu, op. cit., p. 150. 7. NC. 4, p. 6. 8. NC. 2, p. 327. 9. At 1777FATE THETE SpotifHT HET HYcTfA-NC. 2, p. 461.