Lord Mahavira and His Times

SR No.: 011080
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kailashchandra Jain
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 427
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 349

Art and Architecture
331
told that in the picture-gallery of prince Malladina, the pictures were imbued with coquettish sentiments and feelings. (Havabhāva), the play of the eyes (Vilāsa) and amorous gestures (Bibboya).1 Jiyasattu is mentioned as another king who owned a picture-gallery. We are told that when the construction of this gallery was in progress, a painter's daughter formed the design of a peacock feather in the inosaic floor. The king, under a false impression of its being natural, was tempted to pick it up but in this attempt, the nails of his fingers scraped against the floor, and he hurt his hand.? Dummuha is mentioned as still another king to have a picture-gallery.3
Besides portraiture and mural paintings, we also find mention of such widely-known practices as Lepa-chitras, Lekhya-chitras, Dhüli-chitras, etc. Lepya-chitras are nothing but continuous narratives in lines and colour on textiles, and partook of the nature of pata-chitras of later tradition. Lekhyachitras are probably line-drawings of a decorative nature like Alimpanas or Alpanās of later tradition, while Dhūli-chitras arc also of the same nature and character, but the material used is powdered rice, white or coloured.
Trees, mountains, rivers, seas, houses, crecpers, full vessel and Sovatthiya etc. were painted. The Rāyapasaniza Sutla4 describes that the Vimāna of Sūryābha Deva was decorated with many kinds of figures and motifs (Bhatti-chitra), c.g. fabulous animals (īhāmiga), bulls (Usabha), horses (Turaya), Yakshas or Atlantes figures (Nara), crocodiles (Magara), birds (Vihaga), serpents or dragons (Vālaga), Kinnaras (Centaurs), dcer (Rurul), Sarabha (lion-like figures), Yak (Chamara), clephants (Kunjara), wild creepers (Vanalaja) and lotus-creepers (Paumalaya). Some of these figures as listed in Jaina iexts arc almost the same as we find elsewherc, from the stone railings and gateways of Bharhut and Sānchi painting to pre-existing wooden prototypes.
An interesting list of motifs illustrating scenes from
1. Visu, 8, p. 106 [T. 2. Ullara, Ti, , p. 111, 3. Ibid, p. 135. 4. Rosa. Su 97 f.