Jain Vastrapatas: Jain Paintings on Cloth and Paper

‘Jain Vastrapata' brings to you a wealth of material painted on large pieces of cloth and paper. The material is divided in to five chapters: titled Tantric Patas, Non-Tantric Patas, Tirtba Patas, Cosmological Patas, Vijnyaptipatras and Other Patas which include Gyana-Bazi Pata, Chitra-Kavya Pata, and special invitations, besides vivid pictorial representation, the book explains their usage, purpose, symbolism and ritual practice as well as their social and aesthetic value.

It was only after the inception of the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum of the L.D. Institute of Indology in 1983 that most of the specimens discussed here were brought to public view. In addition to the paintings available in the L.D Museum, a few patas from museums outside India are included.

It is due to the initial efforts of the Late Pandit Laxmanbhai Bhojak, who was then in charge of the manuscripts section of the L.D. Institute of Indology, that the present research could be undertaken. His work in Gujarati was translated into English by the present author, Dr. Shridhar Andhare, who was at that time Director of the L.D. Museum. He introduced additions of style, dates and locations.