Science and Art of Calligraphy and Painting

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

Page 74

Fig 1
Sapla
Fig 2
Bandhan
40
Sapla and Sapli: सापला, सापली A book rest.
Sapa larger, Sapli smaller, are made of teak or any other wood including sandalwood and jade stone are carved or made in open-work with traditional designs. The two parts of tho book rest are hinged at the centre, which open and close, Thus making it more portable.
In order to protect books and manuscripts from lying on the ground, where dust, humidity and insects could affect them adversely, a wooden book rest has come in to use. It keeps the book away from the ground, and the reader does not have to hold it nither does he needs to bend his neck to read. This item is more associated with Islamic tradition, as we often see Quran or other books kept on it in the mosques or Islamic educational institutions. It is called a Rhel in Urdu / Persian language. The 14th century Jain literature mentions of this object
Bandhan,, Cloth covering to wrap Mss.
We observe that most of the Mss. are invariably wrapped or tied in a cloth bandhan. It can be of cotton or silk depending upon the importance of the Ms. It is stitched in the shape of an envelope with its closing flap made longer than the two sides, attached with a long tape or a string. The bag is slightly larger than the size of the Ms. so that it could be pushed in to it easily. The flap is then wraped around tightly and the string or