The L. D. Institute of Indology has great pleasure in publishing the present Art work entitled Two Wooden Book-covers depicting the Life of Sintinatha. The learned author Muni Shri Sheelachandravijayaji has for the first time found out these two wooden book-covers and has the credit to bring their rich treasure of illustrations to light through the medium of this Art work. He readily agreed to write a work on these two book-covers for our L. D. Series; this shows his love for learning.
He has divided this work into four sections. In the first section, to prove the independent existence of Jaina style he has presented logical discussion and adduced supporting arguments. In the second section, he has given an account of the palm-leaf manuscript of the Sravakadh armaprakaranavytti (SDPV), which is wrapped with these two wooden book-covers. Shri Laxmitilaka Upadhyaya has composed this vetti (commentary) in V. S. 1317 and completed it in Jalore. This palm-leaf MS. is also written in V. S. 1317 under the supervision of Shri Laxmitilaka and with the financial assistance of the rich merchants of Jalore. Shri Laxmitilaka was closely related to Jalore. It was in Jalore that he was initiated into the Order of Jaina monks. Again it was in Jalore that the title 'Upadhyaya' was conferred on him. In SDPV 1078 gathis (verses) are devoted to the delineation of the life of Santinatha and there was a temple of Santinatha on Svarnagiri in Jalore, hence the life of Santinatha along with his previous births has been depicted on the wooden book-covers of this palm leaf MS. of SDPV. It seems that pictures have been painted on the book-covers after a few months after the completion of the writing of the MS. Even these pictures were painted with the financial assistance of those very merchants of Jalore who got the MS. written. We feel that in drawing the pictures the artist could not avail himself of the guidance from Shri Laxmitilaka; this is because incidents depicted on the book-covers differ widely from those narrated in the commentary by Shri Laxmitilaka. A reason for the non-availability of the guidance might be that Shri Laxmitilaka had left Jalore for his tour (vihara). Or, the artist's lack of understanding Shri Laxmitilaka's instruction might have led to this discrepancy. All this has been explained at length by the learned author in this section. The third section is devoted to the clear exposition of the events in the life-story of Santinitha, as depicted in the pictures. Here the author has attempted analysis and appreciation of all the pictures one by one. The pictures are 33 in all. At the end of this section he has narrated continuous life-story of Santinatha, relevant to the pictures, In the fourth section, 33 pictures are printed. Of them, 8 are coloured and the remaining are black-and-white.
We are grateful to Muni Shri Sheelachandravijayaji for writing this work for our L. D. Series. And our heart-felt thanks are due to Shri Sobhagchand Nanabhai Lakdawala and Shri Pravinchand Rupchand Jhaveri, managers (käryavahaka) of Barasa Sutra Prakashan Samiti, Surat, for giving us loan of Rs. 30,000 for the publication of this work.
I am sure the points presented by Muni Shri Sheelachandravijayaji will satisfy the learned and the pictures of the book-covers will give joy and aesthetic pleasure to the art-critics. The pictures are printed here for the first time. Our Series will undoubtedly be richer by the inclusion of this work in it.
Hindu (935)
Agriculture (118)
Ancient (1086)
Archaeology (753)
Architecture (563)
Art & Culture (910)
Biography (702)
Buddhist (544)
Cookery (167)
Emperor & Queen (565)
Islam (242)
Jainism (307)
Literary (896)
Mahatma Gandhi (372)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist