Science and Art of Calligraphy and Painting

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

Page 66

35 Kajal (lampblack) and Bijbol are taken in equal proportion to which is added Gunder (natural gum) in double proportion of the two. Then seeds of Bijabol are soaked in water, grouned and strained through a thin cloth. This mixture is them put in a copper kadhai, (a flat copper container) and covered with a copper foil and ground with a limewood (batta), a wooden stock for quite some time Thus, the black ink is prepared. This solution is dried in the sun and small tablets are formed.
Another formula which is very common in Rajasthan is as under:
काजल कत्था बीजा बोळ, उसमे पडे गूंद को झोल ।
बांगरिया भी जल पडे, अक्षर अक्षर मोती जडे ॥ This recipe talks about lampblack, kattha(catechu). Bijabol and natural gum; and says that the docouments written with this ink not only repel the insects but also burns them. Therefore, scribes do not use kattha in the ink as it has a strong acidic action which burns the paper after few years. In short, the Jain laiyas have perfected their own technique over the years by trial and error method and have prepared a number of such formulas. They also give instructions about the Do's and Don'ts while preparing inks.
Likewise there are formulas for making gold and silver inks, red ink, ashtagandha and yakshakardama, the two special inks made for very special purpose.