Aspect of Jainology Part 2 Pandita Bechardas Doshi

Author(s): M A Dhaky, Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 540

Gambhirpur Rock Paintings
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rock-surface, the entire figure is directly drawn by the artist. The chatra portion is semi-rectangular. But its top part is not clearly visible (Fig. 3). Shelter 18
It is located on the way leading to 'Idario Gadh', Idar, near the place locally called Ruthi Rāņi-no Mahel. There, on the inner wall of shelter a superimposed painting is discernible. Although superimposed, the semi-circular shape of the stūpa and some Brāhmi letters above it can be discerned. The entire writing is not preserved or clearly legible. (A few letters may be read as “Rajas".) Palaeographically, the characters are assignable to the 4th and the 5th cent. A. D. All these painted stūpa configurations may, therefore, be assigned to the bracket 4th-5th cent. A. D.
Such painted configurations of the stūpa inside rock-shelters are not reported from any other part of the country. The paintings prove the prevalence in this area of Buddhism in the early Gupta period. Notes and References 1. U. P. Shah, "Sculptures from Shamalaji and Roda", Bulletin of Museum
& Picture Gallery, Baroda 1960, p. 2. Ibid. Gazatteer of Bombay Presidency, Vol. 5, Bombay 1880, p. 434. Ibid. Shah, Sculptures., p. 5. Ibid. Ravi Hajarnis and M. D. Verma, "Sāberkānthā māñ maļi āvelā Gufā. citro" (Gujarati), Kumār, Feb. 1979; also by the same authors, “Sabarkāņthā nān citro nun Samayānkana" (Gujarāti), Vidyāpitha, July-August 1980, pp. 47-49; and the same authors with C. K. Date, “Gujarāt
madhil gufa-citre" (Marathi), Svarājya, 2nd Oct. 1982, p. 12. During his work relating to the project on Rock-paintings, the author was assisted by Sarvashri B. S. Makwana, M. D. Verma, and O. P. Ajwalia (Photographer). The author wishes to thank them all. The drawings are reproduced here with the courtesy and assistance of the Department of Archaeology, Government of Gujarat.