Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1

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

Page 938

NEW DOCUMENTS OF JAINA PAINTINGS : 409
It should be noted that generally the pictures in the Upadeśamála are plain statements of facts with no external aid such as landscape and decoration to enhance their effectiveness. However, that does not mean that the painter was not qualified to paint the landscape. In this picture, as also in others, he shows his competence in dealing with nature which serves an appropriate background to the theme.
Folio 52 B: Incidents from the story of the monk Metārya.
It is related that in the course of his wandering, Metārya came for alms to the shop of a goldsmith who had made barley-grains of gold for the use of King śreņika. While the goldsmith had gone to another room to bring some material, a bird flew in and swallowed the golden grains. When the goldsmith came back and did not find the golden barley-grain, he accused the monk of theft. The monk kept silent for fear of the bird's life. Enraged at this silence, the goldsmith dragged the monk in the full sun and tied round his head a wet muñja string. When it contracted due to the heat, the eyes of Metārya came out. In the meanwhile, a woman carrying a faggot threw it under a tree. The noise frightened the bird which had swallowed the golden barley and it threw them out. The goldsmith was very repentant for his rash action.
In the upper panel is depicted a goldsmith's workshop. Under a canopy may be seen the instruments and fire which the goldsmith used. The bird is picking the golden grains and the monk is watching the scene silently. On the left, the goldsmith is bringing out something from a pot. Green and red background.
In the lower panel, two scenes are depicted. On the right is represented the closed and locked door to the goldsmith's workshop. In the centre, the goldsmith is tying the wet string to the head of the monk. On the left, the woman wood-carrier has thrown the faggot whose noise had made the bird dislodge the golden grains. Chocolate background, sun shining in the sky.
Scenes depicting professions are rare in Indian art. Here the painter has represented the workshop of a goldsmith and depicted the instruments which he used. Size : 9.2 x 10.1 cm.
(Colour plate V, Fig. VIII)
Folio 68 A : Incident from the life of Balabhadra. . A Jaina monk named Balabhadra practised penance in a forest. A wild antelope used to guide him to the place where alms were