Jain Miniature Paintings from Western India c9.s5.7

c9.s5.7

Peorī.—It is certain that peorī was never used as yellow in the miniatures of the palm-leaf period, and no Sanskrit text makes any allusion to it. It seems that the colour was introduced from outside, probably from Persia, in the 15th century. In Jaipur it is still known as gogilī, an Indianised form of the Persian gāvgil, ‘cow-earth’. Peorī seems to have been equally favourite as orpiment in the miniatures on paper after 1400 A.D. The peorī was obtained from the urine of the cow fed on mango leaves for a few days. The urine was boiled and, after the water had evaporated, the sediment was rolled into balls which were dried at first on charcoal fire and then in the sun.⁴¹ The colour is deep yellow and very pleasing to the eye.