Rare Jain cosmology manuscript on handmade paper

This antique Jain cosmology manuscript painting belongs to the Western Indian Jain manuscript tradition and dates to the late 19th century. Created on handmade paper using natural mineral pigments, organic binders, and ink, the folio reflects the disciplined artistic and intellectual methods used to transmit Jain cosmological knowledge.

Rooted in Jain cosmological literature such as the Sangrahani Sutra and Uttaradhyayana Sutra, the manuscript presents the universe as eternal and precisely ordered. Diagrammatic imagery and handwritten Sanskrit and Devanagari script together articulate concepts such as Urdhva Loka, Madhya Loka (Jambudvipa), and Adho Loka, along with moral progression and the structure of cosmic space. These works functioned as instructional tools within monastic and scholarly settings.

Visible signs of age, including patina, softened pigments, light water staining, and paper wear, confirm the manuscript’s authenticity. Preserved as a disbound folio, it holds strong scholarly importance and enduring collector value, appropriate for museum collections and refined heritage interiors.

Key Highlights

• Late 19th-century Jain cosmology manuscript painting
• Handwritten Sanskrit and Devanagari script
• Natural mineral pigments on handmade paper
• Authentic age-related patina and wear
• Museum-grade collectible manuscript

Technical Specifications

USP

Extremely rare, original Jain cosmology manuscript preserved in museum-grade condition.

Story & Symbolism

The manuscript conveys Jain cosmological philosophy by illustrating the universe as a moral and spatial framework through which the soul advances toward liberation and ultimate freedom.