Nirgrantha-1

SR No.: 522701
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M A Dhaky, Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 1995
Total Pages: 342
Language: English, Hindi, Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Nirgrantha, & India
File Size: 10 MB

Page 117

Lalit Kumar
Nirgrantha
revered Hirvijaya Sūri, the chief pontiff of the Tapāgaccha. This Ms. was got written (and illumined) through Vasta by Shāh [Saha) Bhojarāj, the son of Shah (Säha) Rūpacanda and his wife Rūpādevi of the Kākarya gotra hailing from the senior branch of the "Usavāla Jñāti. 14" The figures in these painting are in the traditional style but there are some figures in strict profile without the farther-projecting eyes. Thus, these paintings belonged to a phase of transition. The males wear a crown, pyjāmā, patkā, and a scarf; whereas the females wear a short coli, ghāgharā and dupattā which is invariably placed on the turban with its two ends standing out like wings on either side. A patkā tied in the centre with its characteristic loops on either side had its influence from the Caurapañcāśikā-Candāyana group of paintings 6. The costume of a standing female figure deserves greater attention. She has worn a short coli and a scarf on her head. But the ghāghrā and sash projecting forward at an angle is an influence of the CaurapañcāśikāCandāyana tradition. It is further attested by another folio which depicts a combat (dvandayuddha) scene. The two male contestants are sporting a kulaldār turban on their head 18. All figures have their noses marked by a tiny dot which somewhat looks like a nose stud. It seems to be a regional character.
An unpublished illustrated MS. of the Dhananjaya Nāmamālā is the second important document in the L. D. Institute of Indology, which casts more light on the impact of the Caurapañcāśikā-Candāyana style on the Gujarati Jaina painting style. The colophon of the manuscript reads : "Sanivat 1631 varse Vaišākha māse sveta pakṣe pañcamya-tithu Ravi-vāsare. Śrimat Tapāgacche Śri Hiravijaya Suri vijaya-rājye. Pan. Devavijaya Ganibhihi likhitam. svayam vācanayamiti-śreyah.” In translation : "In Samvat 1631 (A. D. 1575) on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Vaišākha, on Sunday, during the pontificate of Sri Hîravijaya Sūri of the Tapāgaccha, Pandita Devavijaya Gani copied it for his study." The MS. has 26 boxes demarcated for illustrations, either on one or both sides of the folios, but only 11 boxes contain sketches in yellow lines drawn by a professional artist. Unfortunately, the task of illustrating the Ms. had been abandoned for some reasons. Later, an unskilled person had tried to accentuate the lines of some sketches with black ink. The first sketch is a standing figure of a Jaina nun in strict profile. In the second sketch, a king is sitting on a couch decorated with torana hangings. Fortunately, it remained untempered in its original yellow lines. A copy of the sketch is reproduced here as Plate 3. The royal figure has worn a turban with a tall kulah sticking on the top. It is the most important feature which apparently shows the influence of the Caurapañcāśikā-Candāyana group of paintings. Other costume of the male includes a jāmā, patkā and a scarf. În yet another folio, a god sporting a helmet like cap with a finial on top is seated on a couch which is much like the couch seen in the Abhidhānacintāmaņi-nāmamālā of A. D. 1573 discussed earlier. The colophon is silent about its place of execution. However, it can be attributed to Malwa for two reasons. First, it shares certain features with the ACN of A. D. 1573 and second, its association with Pandita Devavijaya Ganī who seems to be the same friar as of the ACN of A. D. 1573.
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