Treasures of Jaina Bhandaras

Author(s): Umakant P Shah, Dalsukh Malvania, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Treasures of Jaina Bhandaras
must belong to c. 1415-1425 A.D. (Cat. no. 417, p. 68). We have reproduced two miniatures here in colour pl. V figs., L, M.53 The incomplete Kalpa-sutra in the Oriental Institute, Baroda, has beautiful miniatures of bright colours exhibiting fine brush work and steady draughtsmanship. It should be assigned to c. 1400-1420 A.D.54 Another landmark in the early fifteenth century painting is the Kalpa-sutra dated=1417 A.D. in the National Museum, from Motichand Khajanchi collection. 55 The Satrunjaya-Mahatmya of c. 1420 A.D., is another important document of this period discussed by Moti Chandra and U. P. Shah.56 The Damayanti-katha-Campu in the L. D. Institute is assigned to c. 1400-1425 by Moti Chandra and Shah.57 Perhaps its age is around c. 1400 A.D.
The Dehla no Upäśraya, Ahmedadad has some very interesting and important illustrated Jaina manuscripts, patas, painted wooden boxes for preserving manuscripts, etc. DA no. 14 is a manuscript of Pārsvanatha-Caritra copied in V.S. 1463-1406 A.D. (Cat. no. 444) at Raṇapur in Saurashtra. It has three illustrations on folios 1, 136 and 137. Of these the one on folio 1 of Pärśvanatha is illustrated in figure 29. Folio 137 has miniatures of Dharanendra and Padmavati, both partially damaged since pieces of brittle paper have been broken and lost. Both Dharanendra and Padmavati, green in colour, are depicted as bold and stout figures, unlike many other miniatures of the deities. Another Parsvanatha Caritra (Cat. no. 445) from the same Bhandara (DA no. 4) is dated in V.S. 1467-1410 A.D. The figure of Pārsvanatha from this ms., illustrated in fig. 31, may be compared with fig. 29. Parsva is painted green in these figures. This ms. has some beautiful miniatures illustrated in figs. 32, 33 and 34. Figure 34, on folio 213, represents a Gaṇadhara, probably of Parśvanatha, sitting in padmasana with one hand on the lap and the other carrying a rosary held in Pravacana or Vyakhyāna mudrā near the chest. Behind his head is the lotus halo and below the seat, a full-blown lotus. The ganadhara sits under a torana - arch decorated with lotuses. The back-rest has its borders
53 Masterpieces of Kalpa Sutra Paintings, p. 8, figs. 231, 279-286, 411, 413-415, 421-422. Moti Chandra, Jaina Miniature Paintings from Western India, figs. 139-147.
54Shah, U. P., More Documents of Jaina Paintings, p. 11, fig. 33.
55 New Documents of Jaina Paintings, figs. 9a, 16a, 16b.
56 Ibid., Colour Pl., IA., p. 46.
5 Ibid, figs. 17-18, p. 48.
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