Jain Journal 1993 04

SR No.: 520110
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 67
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 4 MB

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JAIN JOURNAL
The veritable heritage of Indian art and culture is preserved in Jaina paintings which are found from different Jaina Bhandaras, most of them being in western India. Since very beginning (1914), the scholars have been writing on Jaina paintings. The most important subjects of the Jaina painting relate to the Kalpasūtra, Kalakakatha, Uttaradhyayanasūtra, Daśavaikälikasūtra and caritas of Rşabhanatha, Neminatha, Santinátha, Parávanātha and Mahăvira Jinas mainly on the basis of Trisasțiśalākāpuruşcaritra (of Hemacandra), Adipurdna (of Jinasena) and Padmānand Mahākāvya. These paintings in most of the cases are of Svetambara origin and are datable between century A. D. to atleast 15th century A. D. The Jainas fostered tradition of painting of even non-Jaina themes. After the initial and important writings by A. K. Coomaraswamy and W. Norman Brown, Moti Chandra, U. P. Shah, C. Sivaramamurti, Karl Khandalavala, Saryu Doshi and few others have contributed immensely to the field of Jaina paintings. 15
The publication of Jaina Art and Architecture in three volumes by Bharatiya Gyanpitha is the most comprehensive and upto date publication on Jaina art and architecture which comprise articles of scholars from different areas and expertise. The volumes published in 1974-75 cover a time span from 0.300 B. C. to 1800 A. D. The entire study has been presented in the backdrop of different regions like East India, West India, North India, Deccan and South India. Apart from the integrated study of architecture and sculpture with appropriate textual corroboration, an account of Jaina inscriptions, symbols on coins, textual references to Jaina iconography and architecture and Jaina antiquities in different museums in India and abroad have further added to the value of the work.
Thus the study of Jaina art and architecture has now attained a stage where investigations are to be concentrated in terms of different areas or sites or even problems. The problem oriented critical and
pprehensive studies are now required to project even better picture of Jaina art underlining its contribution to the field of Indian art.
15 A. K. Coomaraswamy, Notes on Jaina Art', Jr. Indian Art and Industry, Vol. XVI,
No, 120, London, 1914; W. Norman Brown, A Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of Miniature Painting of Jaina Kalpasūtra, Washington, 1934; Moti Chan. dra, Jaina Miniature Paintings from Western India, Amedabad, 1949; Moti Chandra and U. P. Shah. New Documents of Jaina Paintings, Bombay, 1962; U. P. Shah, More Documents of Jaina Paintings, Ahmedabad, 1965, Treasures of Jaina Bhandāras Ahmedabad, 1978; Karl Khandalavala, Jaina Art and Architecture (A. Ghosh), Vol. III, 1975; Saryu Doshi, Masterpieces of Jain Painting. Bombay, 1985.