A Note on the Authenticity of the Hoysala Manuscripts

Since the original publication of this article, I have had discussions with Chantal Boulanger who is a prominent Indology researcher, who has written and published "Saris: An Illustrated Guide to the Indian Art of Draping". In these discussions, she raised several worthwhile suggestions regarding the concept that the images presented here may not be from genuinely Hoysala Era manuscripts. The manuscripts were presented in "Southern Indian Paintings" by C. Sivaramamurti, as being 12th century Jain painted palm leaf manuscripts, housed in the temples at Moodbidri (also spelled Mudabidri). It mentions that the authenticity was verified by paleographicl comparisons with copper-plate inscriptions.

Chantal raises (in summary) the points that:

Southern Indian palm leaf manuscripts are made by engraving patterns and smearing them with soot, as the hard, brittle leaves of this regions will not take paint. As such, colors that are brushed on are not approropriate to this region. And, the Northern palm leaves which are colored do not generally survive long in the South's intense humidity.
Many of the hair, jewelry and clothing styles are more appropriate to Vijayanara Era images, than Hoysala sculptures
The temple in which they are housed was not created until the 16th century. Nearby temples are as early as the 10th century, but the golden age of this region was the Vijayanagara Era.
The form of the figures do not fit with the codified forms of painting of this era.