Artwork

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 is an unspecified painting by the Renaissance artist Unknown. It dates from 1428 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

You see a monk in white sitting on a throne, holding a cloth to his mouth and a broom behind his back.

You see a monk in white sitting on a throne, holding a cloth to his mouth and a broom behind his back.

This is Hemachandra, a Jain monk who wrote a book on grammar in 1160. The cloth keeps him from accidentally swallowing insects. The broom sweeps bugs from his path—both show Jain beliefs about not harming any living thing.

Look up Jain manuscripts at The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more like this.

Overview

This 12th‑century painted folio depicts the Jain scholar Hemachandra seated on a throne, accompanied by his patron King Kumarapala of the Solanki dynasty. The scene illustrates the author’s grammatical treatise composed in 1160, pairing scholarly activity with royal endorsement.

Subject & Meaning

Hemachandra is shown in the traditional white monastic robe with a shaved head, holding a cloth before his mouth to prevent the accidental ingestion of insects—a visual reminder of the Jain principle of ahimsa, non‑violence toward all life. A broom rests behind him, symbolising the monk’s duty to sweep away insects that might cross his path.

Technique & Style

Executed in miniature painting style, the work employs fine brushwork and delicate coloration to render the figures and their attributes with clarity. The composition balances the seated monk’s serene posture with the regal presence of the king, using spatial hierarchy to emphasize the scholarly authority of Hemachandra.

History & Provenance

The manuscript originates from western India, likely Gujarat, where Hemachandra served the Solanki court. The folio forms part of a larger codex containing the Dvyashraya Mahakavya, a grammatical poem accompanied by commentary from Abhayatilaka. The piece entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection as part of its Jain manuscript holdings.

Context

During the 12th century, Jain scholars frequently produced illustrated texts that combined literary instruction with moral exemplars. Hemachandra’s work reflects this tradition, integrating linguistic analysis with ethical instruction, and demonstrates the close relationship between Jain monastic scholars and the ruling elite of the period.