Treasures from the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum

Author(s): L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 28

17 Details of an Illustrated Vijnaptipatra
(letter of request) in two parts. Paper pasted on cloth, Popular Mughal School, painted at Agra in A.D. 1610 by Ustad Salivahana. (Total) 285.7 x 32.2 cms.
To a request made by the Jain community of Agra to stop the killing of animals during the twelve days of Paryushana , Emperor Jehangir issued a firman stating that "His Majesty ordered in this connection with the coming of Paryushana in the presence of Ramdasa, it was to be proclaimed by beat of drum, the merciful one ordered that non-killing be observed for all the twelve days.
When the command was given His Majesty was seated in the balcony;
Letters of invitation called vijnaptipatras or vinantipatras were issued by Jain institutions of one town to another, inviting Jain monks to spend the four months of the rainy season ( chaumasa at a particular town. These invitations are usually long, narrow scrolls of paper or cloth with series of paintings beginning with the astamangalas and the fourteen dreams, the auspicious symbols of the Jains. They are followed by scenes of royalty, prominent landmarks of the town, bazaar scenes, etc., drawn and painted with mediocre draughtsmanship. The latter half of the scroll (text) throws light on the social, religious and political life of that town.
Raja Ramdasa was in front; behind him Pandit Udayaharsha; then our request for his favour was made; the Emperor issued an order, immediately, at that very moment. As the assembly was in a hall just so has it all been represented in the picture. Ustad Salivahana, an artist of the Imperial atelier; what he saw then the impression of that he has kept in this picture.
Published: 1. Pramod Chandra, Ustad Salivahana and the
Development of popular Mughal Art. Lalit Kala No.8. 1960.
The above letter of invitation however, is more of a letter of request than an invitation. This is a unique pictorial record made by Ustad Salivahana the painter, at Agra in A.D. 1610. This letter is sent by the Jain community of Agra to Vijayasena Suri, then residing at Devakapatan (Patan in Saurashtra, Gujarat) requesting him to
ce the town of Agra with his presence for the installation ceremony of an image in a temple being built by one Sah Chandu.
Shridhar Andhare, An Early Ragamala from Kankroll Collection. Bulletin of the Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay No. 12, 1972.
R. Pinder Wilson, An Illustrated Mughal Manuscript from Ahmedabad. Paintings from Islamic Lands Oxford, 1969.
Jain Education Internant