The heavens and the earth: a Sanskrit cosmography

[Jainism - map]. Adhaidvipa Pata.

€ 7,500.00

An exquisitely detailed Adhaidvipa Pata: a traditional Jain painting of the "two and a half continents" of the Jain tradition. Late period examples are usually quite stylized, but this one is rendered with uncommon focus on the geographic realities of the Indian subcontinent. Written entirely in Sanskrit, the Adhaidvipa Pata and the accompanying cosmological diagram on the reverse maps both the earthly realm and the sky, tracing the movement of the rivers of the Indian subcontinent below and the zodiac above. Unlike many examples, rivers are shown in their historical courses, with their origins and the regions through which they pass clearly marked; historical rivers which today no longer exist are present in their rightful place. Each region is labelled, usually along with the name of a ruler, and the landscape itself is marked by temples.

Looking upwards, the cosmic diagram on the reverse is designed for astrological use, and shows the months, the summer and winter solstices, and star or moon signs. Information is provided regarding the presence of each star in each sign, as well as further details pertaining to constellations, all coming together in a manuscript sky-scape ready for an astrologer's calculations. This mathematical detail extends to the use of traditional Indian units of distance, Yojana, for use on the earthly map.

Circular maps are part of a long Eurasian map-making tradition, and in India the Adhaidvipa Pata are a key part of this cartographic and cosmological lineage.