Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1

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

Page 939

410 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME
available. Once it led him to a chariot-maker who had come to the forest to get wood and had cooked a sumptuous meal which he was glad to offer to the monk.
The scene is laid on the bank of a river with a huge tree under which appears a small Śiva-temple. Outside the temple the chariotmaker is pouring some liquid food in the bowl of the monk who is accompanied by the black antelope. Green background with lotus flower apparently represents a lake.
The artist of the manuscript was at times very fond of representing the trees in great detail. Here the tree knots are depicted and the thick foliage is picked out with brown, giving a very rich effect to the tree. Size : 10 x 10.1 cm.
Folio 69 B : Story of Purņa Śresthi who turned a Hindu monk.
It is related that this hermit, practising penance in a forest had a wooden bowl with four compartments in which he divided the food he received as alms. He reserved food in one compartment for the travellers, in the second for the crows and birds, in the third for fishes in the river and in the fourth he kept some for himself.
The scene is laid in a forest with a hillock and flowering trees. On the right the blue coloured monk is seated on a tigerskin. He has offered a part of the food to a traveller, the second part to crows, the third to the fishes in the pond in the foreground and the fourth he is eating himself. Lacquer-red background, blue and white sky. Size : 9.5 x 10.2 cm.
(Colour plate VI, Fig. IX)
Folio 82 B : Some incidents from the story of Sahasramalla.
Sahasramalla or Virasena was originally in the service of king Kanakadhvaja who once ordered him to capture another powerful king named Kālasena which he managed to do by fighting single-handed. Later on this great warrior turned a Jaina monk. In the course of his wandering he reached the city of Kälasena who had been set free. Recognising him, Kālasena ordered his execution.
The representation of the story is mixed up. In the lower panel, Sahasramalla dressed as a soldier is shown fighting with Kälasena. In the upper panel is represented the court of Kanakadhvaja in which Sahasramalla is shown to have brought the captivated Kālasena. Red background of upper panel.