ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 325

VII.
VIII.
In the description of śāntinātha Jaina Temple of Pāšaliputra a beautiful woman image has been described in the Rayanacudarayacariyam. The description of this image is comparable to Khajuraho women image The Rāyapaseniyasutta provides a large material on architecture, which proves the development of the art of house building to a great extent in that period. Brhatkalpabhāsya mentions three kinds of buildings: An underground cell, a palace and a combination of the two. Dr. J. C. Jain has critically examined these references found in Agama texts and commentaries.
IX.
10.0 Illustrated Manuscripts and Jaina Paintings
The Jaina contribution in this field is of great significance, especially of the mural paintings at Sittannavasal, Armamlai and Tirumalai in Tamil Nadu, and Ellora in Maharashtra. These supply important links in the history of Indian Paining. The Kalpasūtra in the collection at Ahmedabad, painted at the Gāndhāra Bundara (port) on the west coast in c. 1475 A.D. with a lavish use of gold, lapis lazuli, carmine, etc., shows remarkable border decorations with paintings illustrating different technicalities of Bharata-Natyam and Persian influence. The Digambaras illustration of the Yaśodhra-caritra and of the lives of Jinas and others described in works like the Adipurāņa and Uttarapurāna of Jinasena and Gunabhadra became very popular and have provided some exquisite examples of miniatures. The palm leaf illustrations of the Dhavala and Jayadhavalā manuscripts painted in the 12th century in Karnataka also are remarkable. Jainas also patronized the art of wood carving. Beautifully and richly carved temple mandapas, miniature shrines etc. have been discovered and published. Jaina caves at Ellora have several paintings on their ceilings which are an important landmark in the history of painting in India. Illustrated palm leave manuscripts are found only in Jaisalmer Bhandaras while the
other kind of illustrated manuscripts are found in several Bhandāras. VIII. The illustrations on the life of lord Neminātha reveal that the painters of the 12th
century were not limited to the painting of the portraits only but they were expert also in making other painting. There is a manuscript of Adipurana written by Kavi Puspadanta in the 10th century. This manuscript was copied in the year 1404 A.D. On the 14th folio of this manuscript
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