Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1

Author(s): Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 875

376 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME
wooden panels. The monk has a very noble appearance; the figure though somewhat exaggerated is very carefully drawn. The white and slightly red eyes with black pupils are realistically drawn. The room is furnished with bandanvārs (hangings). The lintel copies some wooden prototype. Segments of blue edged with gold represent the sky. Size : 9x 8.7 cm.
Folio 113 A : Siddhārtha and Triśalā.
Siddhārtha wearing a blue-flowered dhoti, an uttariya and ornaments is seated on a golden caukī, holding a sword. Facing him is seated Trisalā on a golden stool wearing a coli, hamsa-duküla and ornaments. A red background with strips of blue edged with gold perhaps indicate room hangings. Size : 8.7 x 6 cm.
Folio 132 A : Kālakācārya with four-handed Indra.
The scene is laid inside a monastery. On the left Kälaka is seated in a golden throne furnished with a blue cover. In front of him lies the sthāpanācārya. On the right stands the four-armed Indra offering his salutations to Kālaka. Golden room hanging; red background with strips of blue edged with gold indicating clouds. Size : 9x7 cm.
(Fig. 3)
Kalaka-kathā, circa 1430 A.D. from Collections of Muni Sri Punyavijayaji.
Size : 29 x 10 cm.
Total Folios : 26 No colophon or date.
On the basis of two illustrated manuscripts made at Mandu in the fifteenth century it could be said that it was an important centre of art.
The earliest Mandu manuscript of the Kalpa-sútra is dated 1439 A.D. It proves that Mandu painting, though actually influenced by the Western Indian tradition was not a mere carbon copy of the School of Patan28. The illustrations show that in the colour scheme, draughtsmanship and compositions, the painters of Mandu had evolved their own conventions. The draughtsmanship is of a very superior quality; the colours are enamel-like and the landscape is mostly confined to variegated clouds treated dramatically.
Fortunately this limited material on the School of Mandu is further augmented by an illustrated copy of the Kälakācārya-katha in the collection of Muni Sri Punyavijayaji which compares favourably with the 1439 A. D. Mandu manuscript of the Kalpa-sūtra29.