Studies in Jaina Art

Author(s): Umakant P Shah
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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STUDIES IN JAINA ART eight auspiciors marks. The earliest known Vijñaptipatra belongs to the c. 17th century A.D. 1
Tantric and non-tantric pațas or paintings on cloth are often available but only a few of them have been published hitherto. 2 The earliest known amongst them are the Chintāmaņi-Yantra pața drawn for Taruņaprabhasūri (c. 1354 A. D.) and the Sūri-mantra pața executed for the use of Bhāvadevasūri (c. 1355 A. D.) both discussed by Moti Chandra. 3 A Pața of Hrimkāra with Parśva in centre, from collections of Muni Sri Punya vijayaji, is illustrated in fig. 8o. It is also called Atte Matte Yantra-pața, and is assignable to C. 1400-A.D.
We have referred to the earliest known painted book-covers. Amongst other noteworthy examples are the pațţikās representing the Vyākhyāna Sabhā ( discussion hall) of Sri Jinadatta sūri, at Jesalmere, assignable to Ć. 1154-70 A, D. and the beautiful covers representing the controversy between Śri Devasūri and Kumuda Chandra, now in the collections of Muni Sri Jinavijayaji. This last panel has all the distinguishing features, of the Western Indian School. Sarabhai Nawab assigns the latter to c. 15th century while Moti Chandra is inclined to place it in the 12th century. If contemporary sculpture has to be taken into account, it should be placed in the age of Vastupāla, c. 13th century A. D., when there was a fresh impetus to art and literature. Stylistically also, the cover has affinities with paintings of the late 13th and early 14th century which cannot be overlooked.
Fortunately we have contemporary sculptural evidence for all Western painting from c. 1100 A. D. and a comparative critical approach has been always helpful in the study of Western Indian sculpture and paintings of the mediæval period. Both are closely related, both show angular face, pointed noses, peculiar elongated eyes, besides similar costumes and human proportions. Later Jaina paintings show decided influence of the Moghul and Rājput schools and it would be misleading to label any of these styles as Jaina ones. Painting activity extended over a wide area from Jesalmere in the north to the southern limits of modern Gujarät. Jaina contributions from outside the limits of Western India are hardly known, so far as painting is concerned, except the well known Kalpasūtra painted at Jaunapura (Yavanapura ) in V.S. 1522,
1 Hirananda Shastri, Ancient Vijñāptipatras, (Sri Pratāpasimha Rājyā. bhişeka Granthamālā I).
2 For a discussion on and reference to other published pațas, see, Shah, U. P., JISOA., Vol. IX, pp. 42 ff.
3 Op. cit., pp. 46 ff and plates.
For detailed appreciation and illustrations see Moti Chandra, op. cit., pp. 59 ff. figs. 193-198.