Science and Art of Calligraphy and Painting

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

Page 80

44 After the middle of the 15th century, rich and opulant Mss. were commissioned by the wealthy Jain community. These comprised mainly the sacred canonical texts of the Kalpasutra and the Kalakacharya katha. Such books with profuse use of gold and silver inks on deep crymson or violet or light blue ground became a matter of dignity and pride. Some of the known specimens of these are the Mandu Kalpasutra of A.D. 1439the Jaunpur Kalpasutra of A.D. 1465; and the most magnificient of all Jain manuscripts of the world, the Devasana pada Kalpasutra of ca. 1475 A.D. of Ahmedabad display an extraordinary skill not only of painting but also of calligraphy as well. Some times the entire folio is treated graphically as one, in which both, the text and the pictorial illumination, and in some cases, the marginal decorations play a significant role. The quality and style of writing and painting however goes on changing in the subsequent periods of Jain history.
In this connection it is worthy of mention here to emphasise the importance of one great Ms. of the world, refered above known as the Devasana pada Kalpasutra which is preserved at the Devasano pado Bhandar in Ahmedabad. This exquisite Ms. has more than 234 folios including the text which is written in golden ink on blue ground. Its main peculiarity is its
Karl Khandalavala and Moti Chandra, New Documents of Indian Paintings (a reappraisal) Bombay 1969 ibid ibid