Gambhirpur Rock Paintings

Author(s): Ravi G Hajarnis
Publisher: Z_Aspect_of_Jainology_Part_2_Pundit_Bechardas_Doshi_012016.pdf

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Gambhirpur Rock Paintings 103 rock-surface, the entire figure is directly drawn by the artist. The chatra portion is semi-rectangular. But its top part is not clearly visible (Fig. 3). Shelter 18 It is located on the way leading to 'Idario Gadh', Idar, near the place locally called Ruthi Rani-no Mahel. There, on the inner wall of shelter a superimposed painting is discernible. Although superimposed, the semi-circular shape of the stupa and some Brahmi letters above it can be discerned. The entire writing is not preserved or clearly legible. (A few letters may be read as "Rajas".) Palaeographically, the characters are assignable to the 4th and the 5th cent. A. D. All these painted stupa configurations may, therefore, be assigned to the bracket 4th-5th cent. A. D. Such painted configurations of the stupa inside rock-shelters are not reported from any other part of the country. The paintings prove the prevalence in this area of Buddhism in the early Gupta period. Notes and References 1. U. P. Shah, "Sculptures from Shamalaji and Roda", Bulletin of Museum & Picture Gallery, Baroda 1960, p. 2. 2. Ibid. 3. Gazatteer of Bombay Presidency, Vol. 5, Bombay 1880, p. 434. 4. Ibid. 5. Shah, Sculptures., p. 5. 6. Ibid. 7. Ravi Hajarnis and M. D. Verma, "Saberkantha man mali avela Gufa citro" (Gujarati), Kumar, Feb. 1979; also by the same authors, "Sabarkantha nan citro nun Samayankana" (Gujarati), Vidyapitha, July-August 1980, pp. 47-49; and the same authors with C. K. Date, "Gujarat madhil gufa-citre" (Marathi), Svarajya, 2nd Oct. 1982, p. 12. During his work relating to the project on Rock-paintings, the author was assisted by Sarvashri B. S. Makwana, M. D. Verma, and O. P. Ajwalia (Photographer). The author wishes to thank them all. The drawings are reproduced here with the courtesy and assistance of the Department of Archaeology, Government of Gujarat.