Jain Chitra Kalplata

SR No.: 005188
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
Publication Year: 1940
Total Pages: 84
Language: Gujarati
Classification: Book_Gujarati
File Size: 22 MB

Page 14

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INTRODUCTORY NOTE THE Jaina-chitra-kalpadruma, true to its title, gives highly
I interesting chitras or illustrations of ancient paintings, most of which are Jaina and the rest Vaishnavite. They range between the years 1100 and 1913 afrer Christ. The earliest painting represented in this work is from a manuscript of the Nishithachurni of the Sanghvi's pado bhandar at Patan and is dated in the year 1157 of the Vikrama era. The latest is a painting by Yati Himmatvijayji of Patan. These illustrations are of various kinds and the manuscripts from which these are taken all belong to Wastern India, or we can say Gujarat. They are either on palm-leaf or on paper The earliest is on palm-leaf.
The most interesting illustrations in this publication pertain to the copy of the Kalpasutra of the late Muni Hamsavijayji's collection in the Atmaram Jnanamandira at Baroda and of Devashah's pado in Ahmedabad. They are pre Moghul in origin and would show that the art of painting in Gujarat had reached a very high degree of perlection before the Moghul rule in India. The Devashah's pado manuscript is quite unique in that it gives illustrations of different attitudes and poses of dances described in the Natyashastra of Bharata. Similar figures are to be seen in the Chidambaram temple where full descriptive stanzas are also given. These have been published in one of the annual Reports on South Indian Epigraphy, Madras. The Devashah's pado manuscript where these pictures are drawn on the margins gives the labels showing the name of the pose or the dance represented.
These illustrations of the Ragas and the Raginis given in it are original and not copies. Evidently, it is very desirable that the manuscript is printed in its entirety and placed before scholars interested in Indian Music and Dancing soon.
Mr. Sarabhai Nawab and the colleagues are to be congratulated for bringing out this useful work. It throws a flood - light on the history of the art of painting in Gujarat and is sure to get a good reception, and it deserves it.
Hirananda Sastri