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96
Jain Thought and Culture
"fa sí arferibet ATFERTICEF ast 74 HTUT #8578 p" on page no 191
-Here ends the Adityashtaka . Sainvat 1820 (AD 1763) "efa si HITTA HPL 973 AVUI 9 857Tapi Alana da"-on page no 111
-Here ends Sri samayaka path In the current Samvat 1821 in Malavadesa (AD 1764 in Malavadesa) "fa 7757 1951 À TOT HTTU 858ę" on page no 118
–Here ends the hymn to the twenty four Tırthankaras-Samvat 1846 (A D 1789)
An examination of these three colophons and two different sets of hand-writings point to the fact that the work was executed at two stages The ch ice of themes indicates that all were probably prepared for the same owner It is possible that the owner of the book who commissioned this work in VS 1820 thought to add some more pages a year later in VS 1821 and some more after twenty five years in VS 1846 Two colophons do not mention the place of execution but the one on page 111 reads, "Samvat 1821 pravarta Malavadesa" AD 1763 in Malwa Malwa region which includes western part of modern Madhya Pradesh and eastern Rajasthan was a centre of art and learning from ancient times Some earliest dated Jain manuscripts are known from that area, and it is not surprising that such a richly painted book was executed there in 18th century
Though the manuscript was found at Bundi and one of the colophon says that it was prepared at Malavadesa, the paintings themselves speak something else In workmanship, colouring, landscape, architecture and physical type, they are more closely related to the Mewar style of Maharana Ari Singh II period (1761-1773 AD) Both male and female types as well as several compositional features are derived from portraits of Ari Singh II in which he is depicted watching dance performances or sitting with courtiers or withladies in zanana The characteristic compositions, namely the devotees performing Arttı and "Gundhar in his palace” have their origin in 18th century Mewar paintings Stylized tree forms and typical mango and banana trees of Mewar can be seen in these paintings
3 Karl Khandalavala and Moti Chandra. A Consideration of an Illustrated MS from Mandapadurga (Mandu) Dated 1439 AD”, Lalita Kala, No 6, PP 8-29
