Descriptive Catalogue of Illustrated Manuscripts

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Orissa State Museum is exceedingly exuberant in palmleaf manuscript collection. More than thirty seven thousand rare palm leaf manuscripts categorized into twenty seven sections such as Veda, Tantra, Darshan, Dharmasastra, Ayurveda, Jyotisha, Ganita, Ramayana, Mahabharat & Shilpasastra etc. have been preserved here. These manuscripts form the treasure house of our ancient lore and heritage. The oldest palmleaf manuscript namely Abhinava Geetagovinda articulated by Dibakara Mishra for Gajapati Maharaja Purusottama Deva dates back to 15th Century A.D.. As is well known, the original Geetagovinda manuscript has been composed by the saint poet Shree Jayadeva in 12th Century A.D., Similarly, the Vedic texts, Ramayana and Mahabharata were composed in the remote past. Hence, the knowledge contained in the palmleaf manuscripts is very ancient.

Orissa ile, ancient Kalinga also called Utkal is a hoary land of artistic efflorescence and cultural excellence through ages. Since the prehistoric days, we find graphic artistic creations in the facades of rock shelters in the hilly hinterland of Western Orissa. This tradition continues unabated till present day with marked note of precision and perfection in patta and palmleaf painting. In the palmleaf artistic idiom, we find resplendent reflection of this antique painting tradition of secular, vernacular and religious versions and depictions.

Orissa State Museum has preserved more than four hundred painted/illustrated palmleaf manuscripts. Of these, the most important ones are Geetagovinda, Amarusataka, Chausathi Ratibandha and Ushabhilasa etc.

These manuscripts have been very scientifically preserved in the manuscript gallery and the manuscript library of State Museum which are the centre of attraction for the scholars, tourists, students and foreigners. A Descriptive Catalogue of the illustrated palmleaf manuscripts was essentials for reference of the discerning scholars and researchers. On the eve of celebration of Platinum Jubilee Ceremony of Orissa State Museum during 29" to 31" December, 2007, Govt. of Orissa under the dynamic leadership of Sri Naveen Pattnaik, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Sri Surya Narayan Patro, Hon'ble Minister, Culture, IT & Energy, Sri A. K. Tripathy, a scholar Chief Secretary and Sri G. N. Mohanty a prolific Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Culture, this stupendous work witnessed the light of the day.

With sound technical knowledge and spirited scholarly pursuit of Dr. Bhagyalipi Malla, Curator of Palmleaf Manuscript Section, work could be published in a record time. I hope, this Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue which is first of its kind in the State Museum as well as in Orissa will be a beckon light for higher and in-depth research for the general public and scholars all over the globe.

Gone are the days when Orissa used to be known as Utkala. Since the time immemorial, the land excelled in every genre of art such as sculpture, architecture, textile, handicraft, music, dance, drama and painting. Besides, there exists a rich legacy behind the origin of every art form that is still vibrant and alive. Take for instance, the art form of etching and painting on palmleaf. Probably it is the most ancient pan-Indian art form. Its origin also marks the beginning of the dissemination of the system of writing. As a result it is closely intertwined with the literary traditions of our country. Although, Orissa is not the only state where one can find the palmleaf painting, the land certainly deserves credit for accrediting richness and perfection to this art form. The illustrated miniature paintings in the palmleaves also provide for us a living record of the sartorial styles, cosmetics and coiffure, dance forms, myths and legends and above all our rich socio-cultural heritage.

This painting tradition finally found fuller articulation in the express palmleaf painting tradition since the later medieval times casting an aura of superb illumination on various themes like Ramayana, the Mahabharat, the Gitagovinda and various subjects like men, women, nature worship, gods and godling and their romantic dalliance, love making and eroticism. In this volume, an humble attempt has been made to present some of the important highlights of palmleaf art, idioms and dictions. The art of drawing and painting flourished flamboyantly in ancient Orissa The consummate craftsmanship of Orissan artists is full of depiction of Oriya classical themes. The materials generally used for preparing illustrations were palm leaves, handmade paper, thin size wooden planks covered with cloth and ivory plates etc. Different indigenous colours obtained from Hingula, Haratila, Gorachana, Hariotra, Kumkuma, Kajjala and Geru etc. were used for painting on palm leaf, paper, patta and planks. Themes of Orissan painting are based on the stories of the Ramayana, the Mahabharat and the Bhagavata etc.

The vast collection of the manuscripts of the Orissa State Museum has been categorised into twenty-seven sections namely - the Veda, the Tantra, the Sanskrit Purinas, the Religious texts, Philosophy, Astrology, Ayurveda, Lexicon, Grammar, the Sanskrit Poetry, Poetics, Music, Crafts, Mathematics, the paper manuscripts (Oriya), the paper manuscripts (Sanskrit), the manuscripts in Bengali language, the manuscripts in Sanskrit, the Sanskrit manuscripts in Bengali script, the manuscripts in Telugu, the manuscripts in Persian, the Oriya poetry, the Oriya Purinas, the Oriya prose compositions, the Oriya historical poems and the Illustrated manuscripts.

However, what has not been mentioned in the above collection and needs to be highlighted are the special features of illustrated palmleaf manuscripts and their place in the Orissan painting tradition. The illustrated palmleaf manuscripts preserved in the Orissa State Museum are the Gitagovinda, the Ushavilasha, the Ushiharana, the Bidagdhamidhava, the Amarusataka, the Rasikaharavali, the Krpasindhujanana, the Gopicandana, the Lavanyabati, the Chhindabhusana, the Rasakallola etc. In the realm of palmleaf illustrations, the Gitagovinda of 12th century A.D. is an important theme in Orissa. The Gitagovinda is one of the best devotional lyrics composed by Jayadeva in praise of Lord Krsna. It consists of 12 cantos and 24 prabandhas or songs. The poem marks the culmination of classical Sanskrit poetry and heralds the advent of literature and poetry in many regional languages of India. The structure of the Gitagovinda is deceptively simple.