ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 150

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10.0 Illustrated Manuscripts and Jaina Paintings
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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 Kalpas tra in the collection at Ahmedabad, painted at the G ndh ra 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 BharataNatyam and Persian influence.
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The Kuvalayam I kah mentions the making of images from white stone (Mukta sela) for the first time in Jaina literature.
In the description of ntin tha Jaina Temple of P taliputra a beautiful woman image has been described in the Rayancudarayacariyam. The description of this image is comparable to Khajur ho women image.
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The R yapaseniyasutta provides a large material on architecture, which proves the development of the art of house building to a great extent in that period.
Brhatkalpabhāṣya 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.
The Digambaras illustration of the Ya odhr Caritra, and of the lives of Jinas and others described in works like the dipur a and Uttarapur a of Jinasena and Gunabhadra became very popular and have provided some exquisite examples of miniatures.
The palm leaf illustrations of the Dhaval and Jaya Dhaval manuscripts painted in the twelfth 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 Bhand ras while the other kind of illustrated manuscripts are found in several Bhand ras.
The illustrations on the life of lord Nemin tha 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 dipur a 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 there is a painting of Marudevi, mother of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, the first Jaina Tirtha kara seeing sixteen dreams. The color is still in good condition and it has been draw on pure Indian style.
11.0 Importance of Jaina Grantha Bhand ras
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Jaina Grantha Bhand ras are the Treasure Houses of Manuscripts.
They were the earlier literary institutions of the country.
They saved the treasure of knowledge from destruction.
Colophons called prasastis of Manuscripts are very important from the historical point of view. On the basis of these, the time of many rulers can be determined and history of old cities and towns can be prepared.
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0