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 Bhandāras
radhyayana sūtra (Cat no. 477 ) is unfortunately gradually deteriorating mainly due to chemical action of certain components of the black ink used in writing and the manuscript deserves immediate treatment for preservation. Paintings of this manuscript generally follow the usual popular pattern of the Uttaradhyayana miniatures insofar as the treatment of the themes is concerned. But the miniatures are noteworthy for two reasons : firstly for the elimination of the three-quarters profile and the farther eye and secondly for the treatment of the eye itself which is fishlike (figs. 76-77 colour fig. S). The style of paintings is folkish, use of colours is limited to green, yellow, rosy white and black on a red background. The artist has often erred in the proportion of limbs. Generally disproportionate big heads on small stunted torsoes catch the eye. Foreheads are short, nose are generally not pointed at the ends, and in a few cases they hardly rise above the surface of the face, thus rendering a typical physiognomy. Usually men do not wear an upper garment and only a scarf is shown. But when people wear jāmās, the artist generally prefers to paint them green. In a few cases, beautiful floral designs in red, on top or bottom of miniatures, remind one of Mughal influence,
There is no colophon giving the date of copying of this manuscript. But the format with circular big red dots in margins, and the script, suggest a date circa 1600-1650 A.D. Trees have long slim curved trunks and the foliage is white or green with yellow flowers, treated in a stylised manner with a thick black outline. The painter delights in painting trees, birds, animals, etc. but their treatment is folkish (colour figs. R and S).
of about the same age but more carefully drawn are the figures in paintings of a manuscript of Upadeśamala prakarana (colour fig. U) from Dehlā no bhandāra, Ahmedabad, no. 145 (Cat. no. 489), drawn with a very simple pallette on red background
The paintings bear certain affinities with those of the Uttaradhyayana sūtra dated in 1591 A.D. (now in the Baroda Museum) and Balagopåla stuti of Kankroli Collection.82 Though not so prominent as in the Devāsanā pädä undated Uttarādhyayana just discussed, the eyes are still fish-like. This tendency of
Especially in the treatment of loose hair at the back in one of the miniatures, cf. Ibid., fig. 45.
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