New Documents of Jaina Paintings

Author(s): Moti Chandra, Umakant P Shah
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_

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NEW DOCUMENTS OF JAINA PAINTINGS : 357 Documents of Uttara Pradesh origin are now forthcoming from the Jaina Bhandaras. These show that in the 17th century Agra and Delhi were not the only centres of the Popular Mughal style but Asani near Jaunpur and probably also Nautanpur (whose location is not yet certain but which should be somewhere near the region of Agra) seem to have been flourishing centres. This is evident from the manuscripts of Meghaduta and Kumarasambhava painted at Asanikotta and Nautanpur respectively. . The recent investigations by U. P. Shah have brought to light some very interesting manuscripts from the Jaina collections which throw important light on the history of Western Indian Painting. This new material may be divided into following categories : Group 1 (1) Kalpa-sutra-dated V. S. 1403 = 1346 A. D. (2) Kalaka-katha, in Mandu style, -c. 1440 A. D. Group II (1) Satrunjaya Mahatmya - c. 1420 A. D. (2) santinatha-Caritra-d. V. S. 1453 = 1396 A. D. (But seems to be around c. 1440 A. D. according to U. P. Shah and late 15th c, according to Moti Chandra). (3) Damayantikatha-campu- between 1400 and 1450 A. D. (4) Kalpa-sutra (painted at Vadnagar) - V. S. 1547 = 1490 A. D. (5) Uttaradhyayana-sutra (painted at Patan) -d. V. S. 1549 = 1492 A. D. (6) Madhavanala-Kamakandala-Katha (written in Patan) - V.S. 1550 = 1493 A.D. (7) Candraprabha-Caritra, dated V. S. 1555 = 1498 A. D. at Patan . . (8) Jamnagar Kalpa-sutra and Kalaka-katha (painted at Patan) -V. S. 1558 = 1501 A. D. Group III (1) Kumarasambhava, - V. S. 1701 = 1644 A. D. (painted at Nautanpur) (2) Meghaduta - d. V. S. 1726 = 1669 A. D. (painted at Asanikotta). Group IV (1) Samgrahani-sutra, (copied at Matar, Central Gujarat), - d. 1640 V. S. = 1583 A. D. painted by the Painter Govinda. (2) Samgrahani-sutra, (copied at Cambay),-d. 1644 V. S. = 1587 A. D.