Part of A Jain Scroll,
Vijnaptipatra

VIJNAPTIPATRA

Probably Surat, Gujarat

About 1600-1700 A.D.

Karl and Meherbai Khandalavala Collection, CSMVS, Mumbai

​Maharashtra, India 

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Below is the description written by the museum.

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“Vijnaptipatra were letters from Jain communities inviting saints to reside in their commune during the holy period of chaturmasa (four months). These invitations were often preceded by illustrations that depicted sights along the route. This particular vijnaptipatra shows European galleys indicating that the authors could have been residents of a port.”

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From the exhibition, India and the World: A History in the Nine Stories, held at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vatsu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai, from November 11, 2017 to February 18, 2018