Jain Miniature Paintings from Western India c5.26

c5.26

The Jñāna Bhaṇḍār is an institution which is a part and parcel of the Śvetāmbara Jain community and there are hundreds of such Bhaṇḍārs with small or large collections of manuscripts all over Gujarāt and Mārwār. The most important of these Bhaṇḍārs are Sanghavī no pāḍāno Jñāna Bhaṇḍār, Pāṭan, Śāntināth Jñāna Bhaṇḍār of Cambay and the Jñāna Bhaṇḍār of Jaisalmer. These Bhaṇḍārs are famous for their collections of palm-leaf manuscripts from the 11th to 15th century. The less important Bhaṇḍārs have paper manuscripts dating from the 15th to 17th century. All these Bhaṇḍārs are joint property of the Śvetāmbara Jain community which meets all charges for their upkeep.