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Jaina Sculptures and Paintings in the United Kingdom
22
Jain Education International
The present paper discusses about the Jaina sculptures and paintings in the museums and other collections of United Kingdom which were studied by author during his visit to U. K. in 1995 as a Nehru Trust Fellow.' The study of Jaina paintings mainly pertains to the collection of Jaina painted manuscripts in the Oriental and India Office Library, London. The collection of Jaina manuscripts here is very rich and over 100 Jaina manuscripts are illuminated ones. These Jaina manuscript paintings broadly range in date between 13th to 18th century AD. The Kalpasutra and the Kalakacaryakatha outnumber all other Jaina manuscript paintings. The other Jaina manuscript paintings mainly include the Trisastisalakapurusacaritra, Pravacanasaroddhara, Acaranga, Sthananga, Bhagavatisutra, Antagadadasao, Uttaradhyayana, Candraprajnapti, Lilavati, Satrunjayamahatmya, Prajnapanasutra, Bhaktamarastrotra, Dasavaikalika, Samgrahanisutra, Prabodhacintamani, Yogasastra, Kumarapalacarita, Parsvanathacarita and the Prabandhacintamani. The kalpasutra paintings are mostly dated between c. 1460 and 1800 AD and they mainly exhibit the paintings pertaining to the figural representations of Rsabhanatha, Neminatha, Parsvanatha and Mahavira, the most popular of all the 24 Jinas and respectively the 1st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th Jinas. The figures of the Jinas either seated or standing are surprisingly provided with the ornaments, the parallel to which could be noticed in the earlier examples of Buddha figures from Eastern India, belonging to the Pala period, wherein Buddha is adorned with the crown, necklaces and other ornaments. This indeed is an enigmatic point to be pondered upon that both the Buddha and the Jinas (or Tirthankaras) who renounced everything at the time of renunciation and took the path of austerity, were provided again with the same material belongings which distinctly reflect the attitude and aspiration of the worshippers and the
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Prof. M. N. P. Tiwari
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