Kalakacarya-katha: A Jaina Monk’s Tryst with the Scythians as Represented in the Illustrated Manuscripts from Western India
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The article discusses an ancient Jaina legend dating back 2000 years, which revolves around the abduction of a nun named Sarasvati by the king of Ujjayini, and the subsequent involvement of a Saka (Scythian) king in her rescue. The story was recorded in Prakrit and Gujarati a thousand years later and was illustrated and included in Kalpasutra manuscripts five hundred years after that. The article explores the illustrations from manuscripts commissioned in Western India, particularly Gujarat, for their patrons, the Sultanates of Jaunpur, Ahmedabad, and Malwa. These illustrations shed light on the storyline, highlighting the use of yogic power and moral themes, providing insight into the meaning behind the Svetambara sect’s legend and its representation in Western Indian Art history.
Author: Soma Ghosh
Institutions: Ministry of Culture, Government of India
Language: English
Topic: Indian and Buddhist Studies
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4403736328