Description

The manuscript

A version of Gaṅgādāsa’s story of the ‘Sunday vow’, written in Gujarati in the Jain Devānāgarī script with decorative floral borders and 33 thirty-three miniatures, many of which are full- page. They stand out for the vibrant colours and abundance of details of the scenes depicted.

The Ādityavāra-kathā

The story, which is very popular among the Jains of the Digambara sect, tells of the good or bad results coming from observing or failing to observe the so-called ‘Sunday vow’ which that entails fasting, recitation of special mantras and giving up any form of violence.

A merchant who does not follow a Jain monk’s advice of keeping the vow endures pain and misfortune. However later on his youngest son , through observance of the vow and devotion to the Jinas and Jain deities, restores happiness and prosperity to the family.

The legend exemplifies the importance of rituals and devotion in the Jain faith as a means to gain merit and purify the soul.

View images of the entire manuscripts via our Digitised Manuscripts website.