Jain Miniature Paintings from Western India c9.s3.19

c9.s3.19

In the medieval Indian texts on painting, however, *lākṣārasa* or lac-dye, as a colour, is very well known. In the *Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa*²⁰, lac-resin (*lākṣā*) is mentioned as one of the colouring materials. In the *Mānasollāsa*²¹, lac-dye (*alaktakarasa*) is prescribed for transparent red (*rakta*), and it was also used for obtaining various mixed shades. In the *Śilparatna*²², it is described as a deep transparent red (*atirakte tu samyojyam varṇe lākṣārasam*). From the colour lists of Western Indian painters supplied by Muni Punyavijayaji²³, lac-dye (*ālato*) was used as red, and also mixed with other colours to obtain various shades.