Science and Art of Calligraphy and Painting

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

Page 65

Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandie
34
3.2
Preparation of ink and colours Black ink: ft Mashi
Inkwells
Preparation of black ink for writing on palm leaf. paper and cloth, varies from material to material. Therefore, let us first examine the ink prepared for writing on the palmleaf. Textual references in this regard take us back to the 15th/16th centuries. But these references are at times vague and when experimented, result in a failure due to non availability of material and ingnorance about the ingradients mentioned in the old recipes. However, some of these references quoted by Muni Punyavijayji are presented here. "6 " frhet
a i सम कज्जल बोल युता, भवति मसी ताडपत्राणाम् " A rough translation of the abvoe can be,
Sahavara is an aqatic plant known as Kantasaria (Guj), Juince of Jalabhangaria i e. aqatic plant. Triphala i e a powder of three fruits, Kasisu, pieces of some medicinal wood and iron filings, all of these are boiled togather till they become like a paste. This is then mixed with indigo juice in equal propertions to which are added lampblack and bijabolan ayurvedic herbal item) in equal proportion. In this way black ink is obtained. Likewise there are at least five types of preparations given by Muniji, but the most common recipe is as under: