Sangrahanisutra thumbnail 1
Sangrahanisutra thumbnail 2
+1
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Sangrahanisutra

Manuscript Page
18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Sangrahanisutra is a cosmological text composed in 1136 by Shrichandra that includes Jain ideas about the structure of the universe and the mapping of space. The manuscript, made in the eighteenth century, includes illustrations and cosmic diagrams.
This folio has a diagram of the six leshyas or thought colours, the 'taints of the soul'. As explained by Caillat and Kumar (see References), in Jain thought, actions and emotions are believed to produce a subtle matter which may adhere to the soul (or Jiva) and taint it. The darkness of the taint is determined by the wickedness of the deed. The colours may be black, blue, grey, yellow, red and white, but there is a slight variation from this scheme in this example with for example green replacing blue. The other side of the folio has text but is not illustrated.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Sangrahanisutra (series title)
  • Trailokya dipi (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Painted in ink and paint on paper
Brief description
Manuscript page, Sangrahanisutra, ink and paint on paper, Western India, 18th century
Physical description
A complete illustrated manuscript of the Samgrahanisutra or Sangrahanisutra, a Jain cosmographical text in Sanskrit composed in A.D.1136 by Shrichandra Muni, whose name appears on f.52 of this copy. The work is also named at the end as the Trailokya dipi, which is more usually applied to the Sangrahani Sutra of Jinabhadragani Kshamashramana, the earliest work of this class. The work is accompanied by an interlinear text in smaller devanagari script, which is possibly the commentary of Devabhadra. This manuscript is written on 56 oblong folios of paper of which two folios (10a and 12a) are not numbered, the last numbered folio being 54. The outer folios are of double thickness and decorated with a central ogee medallion and floral motifs on their outer faces. The copy is undated but appears to have been written and illustrated in Western India during the 18th century.
This folio (1) recto is a chitraprshthika painting (a cover design).
Folio 1 verso (numbered 1) is text.
Dimensions
  • Length: 25.4cm
  • Width: 11.7cm
Style
Gallery label
  • ABOVE: THE SIX LESHYAS OR COLOURS OF THE SOUL IS.35:30-1971 The Samgrahaniratna is a Jain cosmological text in Sanskrit, composed in 1136 by Shrichandrasuri. The small diagram on this page shows six colours representing different spiritual conditions of the soul. A person who is violent and cruel and commits sins develops the black leshya, the worst state. The purest is the white leshya (here shown as silvery grey) on the right, where a person is calm and fully self-controlled in accordance with Jain ideals.(01/08/2017)
Subject depicted
Summary
The Sangrahanisutra is a cosmological text composed in 1136 by Shrichandra that includes Jain ideas about the structure of the universe and the mapping of space. The manuscript, made in the eighteenth century, includes illustrations and cosmic diagrams.
This folio has a diagram of the six leshyas or thought colours, the 'taints of the soul'. As explained by Caillat and Kumar (see References), in Jain thought, actions and emotions are believed to produce a subtle matter which may adhere to the soul (or Jiva) and taint it. The darkness of the taint is determined by the wickedness of the deed. The colours may be black, blue, grey, yellow, red and white, but there is a slight variation from this scheme in this example with for example green replacing blue. The other side of the folio has text but is not illustrated.
Bibliographic references
  • Moti Chandra and U.P.Shah, ' New Documents of Jaina Painting'.
  • Shri Mahavira Jaina Vidalaya Golden Jubilee Volume (Bombay 1968), Pt. I, p.39.
  • Balbir, N. et al, 'Catalogue of the Jain Manuscripts of the British Library including the holdings of the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum'. London, British Library and Institute of Jainology, 2006. Vol 1, pp.38-39, Vol 2, pp.275-276, cat. no. 339.
  • Caillat, C. and Kumar, R. (Norman, R. tr.) The Jain Cosmology. Basel : Ravi Kumar, 1981.
Collection
Accession number
IS.35:30-1971

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 31, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest