The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 25, 2024

Folio 2, from a Great Poem about Twos (Dvyashraya Mahakavya) of Hemachandra with Commentary by Abhayatilaka

Folio 2, from a Great Poem about Twos (Dvyashraya Mahakavya) of Hemachandra with Commentary by Abhayatilaka

1428
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Two barely perceptible inscriptions identify the monk and the layman as Hemachandra and Kumarapala.

Description

The author of the text, Hemachandra (1088–1173) is seated at the left, on a throne. He was a Jain monk, here shown clad in a white robe, with shaven head, holding a cloth before his mouth to screen out any insects he might inadvertently harm by swallowing. Also an attribute of Jain ascetics, who adhere to principles of committing no harm to any living being, is the broom behind his back, used to sweep insects from the path. He wrote this text in 1160, illustrating points of grammar with praiseworthy deeds of his royal patrons, such as King Kumarapala (reigned 1143–1172) of the Solanki dynasty (940–1244) of western India who sits before him.
  • ?-1971
    (Sander L. Feldman, Washington, DC, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    1971-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Shah, Umakant P. Treasures of Jaina Bhaṇḍāras: Catalogue of Exhibition. Ahmedabad: L.D. Institute of Indology, 1978. 13, 64
  • Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 1, 2021-February 6, 2022).
    Indian Gallery 242b Rotation – November 2016. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (November 7, 2016-April 10, 2017).
  • {{cite web|title=Folio 2, from a Great Poem about Twos (Dvyashraya Mahakavya) of Hemachandra with Commentary by Abhayatilaka|url=false|author=|year=1428|access-date=25 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1971.131