Science and Art of Calligraphy and Painting

Author(s): S Andhare
Publisher: Indian National Science Academy

Page 49

Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandie
Pati : पाटी
A plain longish wooden board having a slightly decorative top, of about. 24"X15" (aprox) was known as a Pati. It is incised or carved with the alphabets in Devanagri characters for the amateur scribes to train their hand in the traditional flow of writing. Similar patis acted as drawing boards for the traditional painters, chataras, from Rajasthan, for painting miniature paintings. (Fig. 1) Larger wooden boards were prepared by joining more planks togather for painting large pilgrimage patas for displaying them in Jain temples and monastic establishments on sacred occasions. Examples of such patas are available in temples at Surat and elsewhere.
Fig 1
Fig 2
Granthikas
Granthikas: ग्रंथिका
Someties pom-pons, tassels or ivory rosettes (button like circular objects) were attached to the end of the cord, known as Granthikas or Granthis(Fig.2) which apart from rendering aesthetic quality to the book preserved the cord from slipping through the holes. In South India and Orissa, long and narrow teak wood or rose wood or Raktachandan panels are used for this purpose.