Jain Journal 1972 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 20

JULY, 1972
from Malikvahanapur in Sind to the holiest of holy places, NagarkotKangra (vide Jinavijay, Vijñaptitrivenī). All the three aforesaid vijñaptipatras fall in the 15th century. In contrast, the 16th century is barren.
A scroll prepared in the early part of the 17th century (1604-12) is extant in part and is preserved in the Nahata Collections at Bikaner. This illustrated scroll in prose and verse was sent from Bikaner to Jinamanikya Suri at Jaisalmer. After this, this tradition took a spurt and scrolls were written in several verse forms, notably 'duta kāvya', 'khanda-kävya', 'pāda-pārti-kāvya' and in these forms, the stream continued till the 18th century, when Sanskrit was replaced by local vernaculars, though the admixture of prose and poetry still continued. From the 17th till the 19th century, ‘gajal type of verse has been made much use of in these, particularly in giving the description of the towns.
The practice of illustrating the scrolls seems to have started in the 17th century, and, in this respect, the top position should go to one sent by the Order from Agra to Acarya Vijayasena Suri of Tapahgaccha. The scroll is also an important piece of historical material, containing as it does a pictorial account of the issue of a firmān by Emperor Jahangir prohibiting animal slaughter in twelve subās and Raja Ramdas recording the announcement by the celebrated court painter Salivahana. The script beneath each picture contains important information regarding geography, polity and society. It also contains pictures of the Emperio court at Agra, the coming of the monks, the statues of Jaimal and Putta at the main entrance of the Agra fort. Further it contains account of religious activities, penances, and finally an invitation to the Acarya by one Candu to grace the occassion of the dedication of a holy shrine erected by him by his august presence.
In this century, many other illustrative scrolls of this nature must have come up ; but unfortunately we have lost track of them. In the 18th century we can detect at least fifty such illustrative scrolls, of which some are lost, but others are still preserved in the private collections or in the Jaina bhandāras. Of these, at least 12 have been taken note in the aforesaid book entitled Ancient Vijñaptipatras. Another one dozen scrolls are within our knowledge, of which account of one, sent in V.S. 1887 (1831 A.D.) from Udaipur is given below. The tradition of illustrating scrolls continued for years till V.S. 1916 (1860 A.D.) when the last scroll known so far was sent to Acarya Mukti Suri of the Kharatara gaccha and since then we know of them no more..