Artwork

Text, folio 2 (verso) from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri

Text, folio 2 (verso) from a Parshvanatha Charitra (Life and Stories of Lord Parshva) of Bhavadeva-suri is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1288 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This is folio 2 (verso) from a Parshvanatha Charitra, a manuscript detailing the life and stories of Lord Parshva, a key figure in Jainism.

About this work

Overview

This is folio 2 (verso) from a Parshvanatha Charitra, a manuscript detailing the life and stories of Lord Parshva, a key figure in Jainism. The page features nine lines of text in Devanagari script, read left to right, on a cream-colored background.

Subject & Meaning

The text introduces Marubhuti, a pious figure who, after nine more incarnations, will be reborn as Parshva and achieve liberation, illustrating a central Jain theme of spiritual progression towards enlightenment.

Technique & Style

The manuscript page is characterized by its use of Devanagari script for the main text, with red ink employed in marginal squares for folio numbering (using two systems) and black ink for later corrections in the lower margin.

History & Provenance

While specific origins are not detailed here, the corrections by later readers indicate the manuscript's continued use over time. Provenance suggests a connection to Western India, potentially Gujarat, based on stylistic and contextual clues.

Context

Part of a larger Parshvanatha Charitra, this folio reflects the importance of written narratives in Jainism for recounting spiritual biographies and teaching doctrinal principles through the life of Lord Parshva.