Treasures of Jaina Bhandaras

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

Page 57

Treasures of Jaina Bhandaras
no. 501), illustarated here in figs. 105-109 and colour fig. ZF. It will be seen that figs. 108 and 105 can easily be regaraded as product of the so-called Sirohi school. The manuscript was copied in V.S. 1861-1804 A.D.
Floors of terraces in figs. 105-107. are paved with small flower designs or carpet designs. Men have long whiskers and long moustaches spread in fan shape on the cheeks, mingling with whiskers. Male figures wear angarkhās (jāmās) and big turbans of various shapes. They generally have long pointed big eyes, and sometimes pointed noses. Faces are big and squarish. Females wear cholis and saris orodhanis and a lower garment.
An important feature of this Kalpa-sūtra is its revolt against the set formulas of treatment of Kalpa-sūtra themes. Here we come across a very great variety of themes treated in a novel and diverse manner. The artist's creative genius has its full play and freedom. This Kalpa-sūtra is a good record of contemporary life and culture. The artist's treatment of nature and landscape is illustracted in colour fig. ZF. The place of copying of this manuscript is not known but it is some centre in Gujarat, perhaps Ahmedabad itself.
Already in the later part of seventeenth century such departures and varieties of Kalpa-sütra paintings were tried at Ahmedabad, as can be seen from another Kalpa-sūtra painted in Rajanagar (Ahmedabad) in V.S. 1727(=1670 A.D.), now in collections of the L.D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad.98
Even earlier, we have certain documents to show how Ahmedabad was an important centre of painting in new styles and kept pace with growth of different schools in Rajasthan. A long pața, painted on cloth in Ahmedabad in V.S. 16981641 A.D., and called Vividha-Tirtha-Para, (cat. no. 535] exists in the collections of Sheth Anandji Kalyanji ni Pedhi, Ahmedabad (see colour figs. V and W). Another Pața, known as Pata of 904 Tirthankaras and Vividha (different) Tirthas (places of pilgrimage), painted also in V.S. 1698=1641 A.D., exists in the collections of the Samvegi Upāśraya, Ahmedabad. A few sections from this Pața are illustrated in figures 131-133. These are beautifully painted long pațas deserving separate treatment
98 More Documents of Jaina Painting, fig. 77.
42