Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1

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

Page 940

NEW DOCUMENTS OF JAINA PAINTINGS : 411
Reverting again to the lower panel, Kālasena is represented as a Jaina monk in meditation, being executed. Green background.
It should be noted that in many illustrations in this series the order of the events is mixed up. This may be due to the restricted nature of the space. The artist was at liberty to paint episodes wherever he found space because he was sure that those who saw the illustrations were well acquainted with the stories which they illustrated. Size : 10.3 x 10.9 cm.
(Fig. 25) Folio 110 B : Story of Araạikācārya.
Puspacūlā, a Jaina woman, served very faithfully her old teacher Araņikācārya. Even in the rains, she brought alms for him to which he objected since that was not lawful food. She replied that in the rains there was no life. The teacher was surprised at this as only a Kevalin could know that. She said that he was also destined to attain Kevali-hood on a boat in the Ganges but a god who was his enemy in a previous birth made the boat lose its balance when the monk shifted his seat. Enraged at this, the co-passengers threw him in the river. The god was ready with his trident on which the monk was pinned.
It the upper panel is shown a monastery in which the monk is shown reclining on a bed on the right. Outside the monastery stands Puşpacūlā in heavy rains. Blue cloudy sky with rain-drops in the background.
In the lower panel, the swirling waters of the Ganges are shown. The boat with the monk and other passengers is on the point of toppling down. In the water may be seen the winged god manipulating the movements of the boat. On the right side is shown the monk pinned on a trident.
It is a forceful illustration in which the pose of the monk, the swirling water of the Ganga betokening of the impending tragedy, the tenseness on the faces of the passengers and the death agony of the monk are dramatically represented. Size : 9.6 x 11.1 cm.
Folio 112 A : Story of Araṇikāputra.
It is related that one Devadatta from Mathura went to Mathura in the South with a friend and stayed there with another friend named Jayasimha. There Devadatta fell in love with the beautiful sister of Jayasimha and asked him her hand in marriage. Jayasimha agreed to