For some time, I have meant to present these images on a Gallery of one kind or another on our nonprofit website.\u00a0 In the transition from our first (Drupal) website to the second (WordPress), I encountered so many difficulties regarding any advance with the Galleries and Media, ensuring an inevitably cumbersome transition from one to the other.<\/p>\n That was then.\u00a0 This is now.<\/p>\n The samples represent Sanskrit and Jain manuscripts of various ages and texts.\u00a0 Their leaves stand on palm-leaf or on paper.\u00a0 Some have illustrations and decorative features.<\/p>\n Their texts comprise single columns of long lines, bordered by vertical bounding lines and\/or contained within rectangular frames.\u00a0 Some leaves have centered holes, circular or ovoid in shape, inset within the text, for stringing in a group as a unit.\u00a0 Other leaves have no such holes, but some such leaves include decorative, non-functional ‘stringing holes’.\u00a0 Rendered in red pigment (sometimes with embellishments in ink), their centered circular or similar elements emulate stringing holes, without such functional characteristics.\u00a0 Occasionally, similar red circular elements stand in the margin or both margins, at about mid-column height flanking the ‘stringing hole’.<\/p>\n Some sources of information, among many, offer points of reference and information about the range of materials, languages, and texts.<\/p>\n All the images are reproduced by permission of the collector.<\/p>\n Captions and descriptions arise, as our tasks and access to expertise permit.<\/p>\n We welcome your suggestions and information.<\/p>\n As we strive to learn more about these cases and their contexts, we observe that exhibiting such examples might provide pathways to better recognition and understanding of the scripts, texts, materials, layout, and transmission.\u00a0 Our collector observes:\u00a0 “I am of course hardly an expert on these things, as much as I would like to be; one incentive to accumulate them is to attempt to get a feel for their characteristics, as well as to get feedback from those who may know something helpful.\u00a0 Besides that, they are fascinating.”<\/p>\n The single column of 7 long lines is bounded by a pair of narrow double bounding lines, which extend the full height of the extant page.\u00a0 The text and bounding lines are monochrome, rendered in black ink.<\/p>\n The date appears in the second-to-last line of text on the page shown here. Among the various luni-solar dating systems employed in the Hindu Calendar<\/a>, this version represents the Vikram Samvat<\/a> (= VS), or “Vikram Era”.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n Hindu Manuscript on Paper, dated VS 1646 \/ AD 1589\/90. Private Collection, reproduced by permission.<\/p><\/div>\n [Update<\/em>:\u00a0 “The date on the first manuscript listed here is given precisely in the colophon. It is Vikrama 1646 | Asadha Suklapaksa 12 which comes to Sunday June 25, AD 1589<\/strong>. This is from a work on grammar called the \u015ai\u015bubodha.”<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014 from Tom Cahill on 18 March 2023 in the Comment below.\u00a0 We express thanks for the information.]<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n The single column of 7 long lines is bounded by a pair of bounding lines, which extend the full height of the extant page.\u00a0\u00a0 The bounding lines take the form of a band edged with ink contours and filled with red pigment.\u00a0 Offset towards the left, the ‘stringing hole’ comprises a circle filled with red pigment.<\/p>\n Presenting the biographies of the Jain<\/a> Tirthankaras<\/a>, this text is traditionally held to have been composed by Bhadrabahu I.\u00a0 The oldest surviving copies of the Kalpa S\u016btra<\/a>, written on paper, were made in Western India in the 14th century.\u00a0 From the mid 15th-century onward, copies often \u2014 as here \u2014 have illustrations of scenes.<\/p>\n Western India, Gujarat or vicinity.<\/p>\n Circa 1500 CE.<\/p>\n Purchased in the Portobello Road Market, London.<\/p>\n On this side of the leaf, the red ‘stringing hole’ is accompanied by a matching pair of red-filled circles which stand in the margins.\u00a0 Standing to the right-hand-side within the column of text, and set within a band-like rectangular border filled with red pigment, the illustration comprises 3 tiers.\u00a0 Each contains 2 or 3 part- or full-length stylized human figures with faces turned in profile or three-quarter view.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Leaf on Paper.\u00a0 The single column of 14 long lines is bounded by a pair of red-filled band-like bounding lines, which extend the full height of the extant page.\u00a0 More-or-less centered within the column, the ‘stringing hole’ comprises a more-or-less circular element filled with red pigment.<\/p>\n Western India.<\/p>\n Circa 1500 CE.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n Leaf on Paper, Western India, Circa 1500. Private Collection, reproduced by permission.<\/p><\/div>\n *****<\/p>\n The single column of 5 long lines contains a broad ovoid stringing hole, offset towards the left.<\/p>\n The text presents a portion of the Bhagavadgita<\/a>, Chapter 2<\/a>, Verses 21\u201329.<\/p>\n Probably 15th Century CE.<\/p>\n Purchased online from a seller in the U.S.A.<\/p>\n [Update:\u00a0 We thank John Stavrellis, who works toward a Ph.D. in Indology at the University of Bonn, for identifying the text on this page.<\/em>]<\/p>\n And now, inspired by the identification by John Stavrellis, another image from the same manuscript:<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n The single column of 9 long lines is bounded by a pair of band-like bounding lines, which extend the full height of the extant page.\u00a0 The irregular ovoid stringing hole is offset to one side within the column.\u00a0 Annotations in the form of commentary or diagram appear within some margins.<\/p>\n The manuscript is incomplete, lacking a colophon.\u00a0 Its text appears to be astrological.<\/p>\n Purchased online in 2 groups of leaves, which amount to a substantial part of the manuscript, albeit incomplete.<\/p>\n The manuscript is old enough to have functional stringing holes, rather than solely decorative ones.<\/p>\n The style of writing appears to be Jain.\u00a0 A quick guide to the sort of script is offered by Omniglot: Devanagiri<\/a> (\u0926\u0947\u0935\u0928\u093e\u0917\u0930\u0940 \u0932\u093f\u092a\u093f). Examples digitized by the Cambridge University Library appear here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Probably 15th century CE.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n Detail of Title.<\/p><\/div>\n *****<\/p>\n The single column variously of 7 or 6 long lines is bounded on only the left-hand side by an outlined band-like set of bounding lines, which extend the full height of the extant page.<\/p>\n The pages shown here, in a single image, are out of order textually.\u00a0 Both have portions of the Devi Mahatmya<\/i> or Devi Mahatmyam<\/i> (Sanskrit<\/a>: dev\u012bm\u0101h\u0101tmyam<\/i><\/i>, \u0926\u0947\u0935\u0940\u092e\u093e\u0939\u093e\u0924\u094d\u092e\u094d\u092f\u092e\u094d<\/span>), or “Glory of the Goddess<\/a>“), a Hindu<\/a> religious text describing the Goddess as the supreme power and creator of the universe.\u00a0 This text, believed to have been composed in\u00a0in Sanskrit<\/a> between 400\u2013600 CE, comprises chapters 81\u201393 of the M\u0101<\/span>rkandeya Purana<\/a>, one of the early Sanskrit Puranas, taking the form of a set of stories related by the sage Markandeya<\/a> to Jaimini<\/a> and his students \u2014 who appear in the form of birds.<\/span><\/p>\n Here the upper page shows parts of Verses 83:13\u201318, while the lower page shows Verses 81:58\u201361.<\/p>\n Mahatmyas are frequent features of Puranic texts.\u00a0 They are later compositions which were added to the original Puranas, so as to impart to the Mahatmya greater religious authenticity and validity.\u00a0 Mahatmya texts are eulogistic, composed to extol the holiness of particular divinities and\/or localities as figures\/places worthy of pilgrimage.\u00a0 These texts also describe the great benefits conferred upon the devotees who follow the mahatmya’s instructions for pilgrimage and worship.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n [Update:\u00a0 We thank John Stavrellis for identifying the text on this page.<\/em>]<\/p>\n Fragment of a manuscript on paper in Sanskrit. Private Collection, purchased online.<\/p><\/div>\n *****<\/p>\n The single column of 5 long lines is bounded by a pair of band-like bounding lines, irregularly filled with red pigment, which extend the full height of the extant page.\u00a0 Where the lines of text do not remain within the preset confines of the bounding lines, but extend within or beyond them, the red pigment infill obliges by adopting an undulating course around their span.<\/p>\n The text belongs to the Vishnusahasranamastotra<\/a>, or Vishnu Sahasran\u0101ma<\/a> stotra<\/a>, a text or hymn (stotra<\/a>) listing and describing the many attributes and epithets (sahasran\u0101ma<\/a>) of the god Vishnu<\/a>.\u00a0 These pages show verses 57\u201366.<\/p>\n Perhaps 18th Century CE.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n [Update:\u00a0 We thank John Stavrellis for identifying the text on this page.<\/em>]<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n The 4-line column of text in long lines stands within an elaborately ornamented frame.<\/p>\n On each side of the leaf (which survives in fragile condition), the gold-framed rectangular frame enclosing the column of text encloses a continuous border.\u00a0 The border presents an intricate, frieze-like series of compacted floral designs painted upon a colored ground.\u00a0 The designs are rendered respectively in gold pigment upon bright blue background (on the recto) or dark green pigment upon bright green background (on the verso).\u00a0 The grid- or ladder-like frame enclosing the column of text introduces horizontal bands (or rungs) within which each line of text hovers or (for the last line) stands.<\/p>\n The text comes from the Bh\u012b\u1e63ma-stava-r\u0101ja (\u092d\u0940\u0937\u094d\u092e\u0938\u094d\u0924\u0935\u0930\u093e\u091c), chapter 47, of the \u015a\u0101nti Parva<\/a>, twelfth and longest among eighteen books in the long epic poem Mah\u0101bh\u0101rata<\/a>.\u00a0 It represents a hymn of praise of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a by Bh\u012b\u1e63ma.\u00a0 The text here corresponds to verses 6-9 of the recension transliterated by Muneo Tokunaga:\u00a0 here<\/a> .<\/p>\n Online facsimiles of witnesses to the text include University of Pennsylvania, MS Coll. 360<\/a> .<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n Recto<\/strong><\/p>\n Verso<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Detail of Verso<\/p>\n [Update:\u00a0 We thank John Stavrellis for identifying the text on these pages.<\/em>]<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n The single column of 9 long lines is bounded by a pair of triple vertical bounding lines, rendered in red pigment, which extend the full height of the extant page.\u00a0 The lines of text subdivide in the center of the column in geometric stepped formation, making space for a decorative stringing hole, albeit omitted.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n The single column variously of 7 or 6 long lines is bounded by a discreet pair of triple bounding lines, which extend the full height of the extant page.\u00a0 The circular stringing hole (torn on one leaf with an extended ‘tail’ which rises diagonally) is surrounded by a more-or-less circular frame of red pigment.\u00a0 There are multiple densely-compacted and neatly written annotations both in between the lines of text and in all the margins.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Damaged at both sides, the leaf has a single column of 3 long lines of ‘text’ comprising diagrams with dotted patterns or script.\u00a0 These lines stand within a rectangular band-like border, edged with ink and filled with red pigment.\u00a0 The border has vertical extensions at the side (only one side survives), which extend the full height of the extant page.\u00a0 The stringing hole comprises a circle with an extended tear.\u00a0 Geometric ink designs embellish the red circle surrounding the stringing hole.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n The column of 6 long lines of text stands within a bordered rectangular frame comprising a nested series of bands.\u00a0 The broadest band is filled with a pale reddish or orange pigment.\u00a0 The lines of text alternate in color regularly between red pigment, black ink, and gold leaf laid within ink outlines.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n The column of text in 6 long lines stands within a bordered rectangular frame comprising a nested series of bands.\u00a0 The broadest band is filled with yellow pigment.\u00a0\u00a0 Around the frame and partly extending into it, an irregular speckled pattern serves as a decorative background for the margins.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n One of 2 leaves from a Hindu or Jain manuscript, 16th century CE.\u00a0 The single column of 15 long lines is bounded by a pair of vertical bounding lines, which extend the full height of the extant page.\u00a0 The lines of text subdivide in the center of the column in geometric stepped formation, making space for a decorative stringing hole, albeit omitted.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n One of 2 leaves from a Hindu or Jain manuscript, 16th century CE.<\/p><\/div>\n *****<\/p>\n Private Collection, Bengali Paper Manuscript, Opened.<\/p><\/div>\n The single column of 5 long lines includes a subrectangular space left blank at the center for a decorative stringing hole.<\/p>\n The presence of that decorative, unused ‘hole’ perhaps indicates an early date.<\/p>\n Purchased from an online seller.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Do you have suggestions, corrections, and refinements concerning these pages?\u00a0 We hope to learn more.<\/p>\n Please add your Contacts below and\/or Contact Us<\/a>.\u00a0 Also, please visit our Facebook Page<\/a>.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n Update<\/em>:<\/p>\n Now see also<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Palm-Leaf and Paper Manuscripts [Posted on 18 April 2018, with updates and corrections.\u00a0 Among the updates are new images, showing more specimens in the collection.\u00a0 We thank John Stavrellis, who works toward a Ph.D. in Indology at the University of Bonn, for identifications of the text on some leaves.] Inspired by some recent communications, as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10918,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[678,1],"tags":[1576,1614,1615,1571,1617,1566,1569,1568,1567,1616],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10910"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10910"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10910\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17602,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10910\/revisions\/17602"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Paper](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/577-cropped-300x198.jpg\")
Inspired by some recent communications, as scholars, collectors, and devotees of manuscripts around the world recognize a welcome on our website, we present some fragments from palm-leaf and paper manuscripts which have joined a collection willing to welcome them.\u00a0 This private collection of many varieties of scripts, texts, languages, formats across the ages and across many cultures\u00a0\u2014 see our Galleries<\/a> \u2014 has generously allowed us to display, study, and publish them, along with discoveries that this collaboration permits.<\/p>\nDisplay<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/1v-1-1-300x197.jpg\")
Without further ado, here are a few of the images that we had intended to present, with generous permission of the owner, who is aware that our wide range of interests about scripts, texts, written sources might gather a broad range of spectators and experts.<\/p>\nContext<\/h3>\n
Jain Manuscripts<\/h4>\n
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Sanskrit Manuscripts<\/h4>\n
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Palm-Leaf Manuscripts<\/h4>\n
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A Preview<\/h2>\n
Samples on Display<\/h2>\n
I. Hindu Manuscript on Paper, Dated VS 1646 = AD 1589\/90<\/h4>\n
![\"Hindu](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/16-rotated-cropped-1024x445.jpg\")
<\/a>II.\u00a0 Paper Manuscript in Prakrit of the Kalpa S\u016btra<\/b><\/i> (Sanskrit<\/a>: \u0915\u0932\u094d\u092a\u0938\u0942\u0924\u094d\u0930<\/span>), “The Book of Rituals”, with Decorative Stringing-Holes<\/h4>\n
Folio 28
![\"Folio](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/prsposter-11-Kalpasutra-leaf-21.jpg\")
<\/a>Folio 36 with illustration<\/strong><\/h5>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/122v-cropped-and-rotated-1024x470.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDetail of Illustration<\/h5>\n
![\"Folio](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/122v-Illustration.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIII.\u00a0 Manuscript on Paper with Decorative ‘Stringing Hole’<\/h4>\n
Both sides of the leaf:<\/h5>\n
![\"576\"](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/576.jpg\")
<\/a>IV.\u00a0 Palm-Leaf Manuscript in Sanskrit from Nepal from the Bhagavadgita<\/a>, 2:21\u201329<\/a><\/em>, with Functional Stringing Hole<\/h4>\n
![\"(zoo13poster](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/zoo13poster-6-1024x209.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAnd There’s More<\/h4>\n
![\"Palm-Leaf](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30r-1024x181.jpg\")
<\/p>\nV.\u00a0 Astrological Manuscript in Sanskrit on Paper, with Functional Stringing-Hole<\/h4>\n
Detail of the Title<\/h5>\n
![\"Detail](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/title-1024x340.jpg\")
<\/a>First Page of Text<\/h5>\n
![\"First](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/1v-1-1024x434.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPage of Text with Diagrams
\n![\"zoo13poster](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/zoo13poster-10-upright-Kalpaspura-leaf-in-Prakrit-western-India-c-1500-1024x410.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h5>\nVI. Paper Manuscript in Sanskrit with the D<\/em>ev\u012b M\u0101h\u0101tmyam, <\/i><\/i>Verses 81:58\u201361 and 83:13\u201318<\/h4>\n
![\"2.jpg](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/2-1024x739.jpg\")
<\/a>VII. Fragmentary Manuscript on Paper with the\u00a0 Vishnu Sahasranama stotra<\/a>, Verses 57\u201366<\/h4>\n
![\"4\"](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/4-1024x884.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nVIII.\u00a0 Leaf from a Paper Manuscript in Sanskrit, from the Bh\u012b\u1e63ma-stava-r\u0101ja<\/em>, Chapter 47, with Ornate Borders<\/h4>\n
![\"Blue-Bordered](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/IMG_5284-angle-view-rotated-and-cropped-1024x528.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Paper](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/577-cropped.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Detail](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/577-top-of-frame.jpg\")
<\/p>\nNEW (as of March 2019)<\/h3>\n
IX.\u00a0 Fragmentary Manuscript on Paper with Spacing for an Omitted Decorative Stringing Hole<\/h4>\n
![\"9-line](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/491-rotated-and-trimmed.jpg\")
<\/p>\nX.\u00a0 3 Leaves from a Manuscript on Paper with a Functional Stringing Hole and both Interlinear and Marginal Entries<\/h4>\n
![\"3](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/554a-rotated-and-cropped.jpg\")
<\/p>\nXI. Fragment of a Manuscript Leaf on Paper with a Rectangular Frame, a Functional Stringing Hole, and Marginal Commentaries<\/h4>\n
![\"Private](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/598-cropped-and-rotated.jpg\")
<\/p>\nXII.\u00a0 Manuscript Leaf on Paper
\nwith a Bordered Rectangular Frame and Polychrome Lines of Text<\/h4>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/1v-1-1-1024x672.jpg\")
<\/p>\nXIII.\u00a0 Fragment of a Manuscript Leaf on Paper
\nwith a Bordered Rectangular Frame and a Decorative Background<\/h4>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/j1-1024x631.jpg\")
<\/p>\nNEW (as of June 2020)<\/h3>\n
XIX.\u00a0 Fragmentary Manuscript on Paper with Spacing for an Omitted Decorative Stringing Hole<\/h4>\n
![\"One](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/azx2-1024x435.jpg\")
New (as of March 2021)<\/h2>\n
XX.\u00a0 Bengali Manuscript on Paper with Spacing for an Omitted Decorative Stringing Hole<\/h4>\n
![\"Private](\"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Bengali-Paper-Manuscript-Mar-2021-1024x373.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n