Jain Miniature Paintings from Western India c6.62

c6.62

There are few traces of medieval wall-paintings left in Western and Central India, and, therefore, the Pañchatantra stories painted on the maṇḍapa of the Vishṇu temple at Madanpur, District Lalitapur, U.P., known as Choṭā Kachaharī, are of special interest. The temple was built in the reign of Madana Varmā (1130—1165 A.D.), and the paintings were added probably shortly after the completion of the building.³¹ Dr. Stella Kramrisch, while describing these paintings, observes in a note³² that they are more related to Western Indian miniature paintings of twelfth to fourteenth century. Their chief interest lies in the angularity of drawing, pointed nose and the protrusion of farther eye into space. These features, together with the characteristic mode of wearing bun-like coiffeur, well trimmed beard (Fig. 8) and the conventional treatment of trees, birds and animals,³³ share with the Western Indian miniatures of 12th to 14th century.