Treasures of Jaina Bhandaras

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

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There were many smaller schools or styles, localised possibly in smaller states who patronised different artists in Gujarat, just as it happened in other parts of India, e.g. the different "Thikānṇās" of Rajasthan or the different centres of Pahari schools. But much more exploration is necessary.
Treasures of Jaina Bhaṇḍāras
Figures 167 and 168 painted on a box for storing pens for writing manuscripts are pointers in this direction. Figure 168 representing a chariot-rider prince followed by his retinue of soldiers etc., the human figures show affinities with those in the Paryuṣaṇā-Kṣamāpanā-patrikā painted at Ahmedabad in A. D. 1796 and illustrated in figures 136-138. But the painting of Gaṇeśa with two female attendants and figures of Sarasvati and Ambika drawn with a fine brush in minute details (fig. 167) would not exclude the possibility of this box having been painted at some other place in Gujarat.
An interesting example of incised line-drawing on the outer surface of a bathing vessel of copper, called Tamba(copper)-kundi (a type of vessel) in Gujarat, is illustrated in figs. 179-180. The vessel is in the collections of the L. D. Institute of Indology. The provenance is not known but could be Gujarat because tămbakundis of this shape had been very popular in Gujarat. In order that the vessel could be purchased for use by a follower of any sect, the copper-smith incised figures of Brahma, Śiva-Pārvati (fig. 179), a Jain ācārya (fig. 180) possibly representing a ganadhara, figure of a Jina and a figure of the Hindu goddess Kali, and the goddess Gayatri on its outer surface. All the figures show good workmanship of a skilled artist. The vessel probably dates from late nineteenth century A. D. (Cat. no. 579).
Several bronze and brass images are preserved in the L. D. Institute of Indology Ahmedabad. Of these, a beautiful miniature brass shrine, open on four sides, with the image enshrined in it missing, is illustrated in fig. 178. The shrine was goldgilt. Size-height 45 cms. x maximum width at base, 24.5 cms. It has an inscription underneath (see Cat. no. 574) which shows that this Caturmukha-prāsāda was the gift of a Jaina Samgha. The place-name is not given. The shrine was cast by Sūtradhāras Bharmalla and Pratapamalla of Mevāḍā caste.
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