Jains got their texts written in numerous copies, illustrated sparsely or profusely with paintings. One typical folio of such a manuscript was divided into sections. What were the allocated spaces in these sections meant for?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Writing the text and painting what is written
Option (1) Writing the names of the patron and the artist — Incorrect. These names were given on the colophon page, the most important folio-page of a set. They were not what the sections of each folio were for.
Option (2) Writing the text and painting what is written — Correct. A typical folio was divided into sections with spaces for writing the text and painting what is written.
Option (3) Writing the date and place of commission of the work — Incorrect. The date and place of commission were also given on the colophon page, not in the sections of each folio.
Option (4) Painting images of gods and goddesses in bright colours — Incorrect. Such images were painted on the patlis, the wooden covers, because of the narrow and small space on palm leaves.
NCERT (2026-27): “Western Indian School of Painting …Other popularly painted texts are Kalakacharyakatha and Sangrahini Sutra, among others. …Jains got these texts written in numerous copies. They were either sparsely or profusely illustrated with paintings. Hence, one typical folio or painting would be divided into sections with allocated spaces for writing the text and painting …what is written. A small hole in the centre was created for a string to pass through to fasten the pages together that were in turn protected with wooden covers called patlis, placed on top and bottom of the manuscript.” |