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Social Life in Gujarat and Rajasthan in the 19th Century
as revealed in a scroll of invitation
Surendra Gopal
Vijñaptipatras or vinatipatras were the invitations sent by the Jaina devotees to their religious leaders to come and preach, and participate with them in festivals enjoined by their religion. As a source of social history, the importance of these invitations is immense, as these were not mere matter-of-fact letters but contained elaborate descriptions of persons, places and goods. We learn from these about food that was popular, textiles that were in use, the market that served local needs and the people who provided leadership in both secular and religious affairs. Besides, these invitations were decorated with paintings which portrayed both religious and secular motives.
The vijñaptipatra under reviewl was sent by the Jaina devotees of Merta near Ajmer in Rajasthan to Acarya Vijayjinendra Suri of Tapagaccha sect at Virampur near Ahmedabad in Gujarat in Samvat 1867 (1810 A.D.). The scroll is 32 ft. long of which paintings occupy 17 ft. The rest contains description of Merta and Virampur, of people and personalities at these two places and the personal qualities of the Acarya. It is written partly in Sanskrit and partly in vernacular and is a mixture of prose and verse.
The paintings, while showing some religious scenes, also depict a mosque, a bazar and a dancing girl. The types of illustrations also indicate the religious tolerance and liberal attitude of the Jainas who did not mind portrayal of a mosque and a dancing girl in such a document.
1 The original document, which lies in the possession of Gujrati Tapagaccha Sangh
Library. Calcutta has been published in Shri Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Golden Jubilee Volume by Shri B. L. Nahata. Illustrations by courtesy of Gujrati Tapagaccha Sangh Library, Calcutta and Shri Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya, Bombay.
JAINTHOLOGY/185
