Janma
Manuscript Page
16th century (made)
16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Kalpasutra (Book of Rituals) is the most important canonical text in Jain literature for the Svetambaras (white-clad), one of the two sects of Jainism. Jainism is one of the oldest religions to have survived until the present time and its basic teaching is one of non-violence. The Kalpasutra is divided into three sections. The first section deals with the lives of the twenty-four Jinas or Tirthankaras, who were the Jain spiritual teachers or 'ford-makers'. The second part deals with the life of Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara. The third part deals with rules for the ascetics and laws during the four months (chaturmas) of the rainy season, when ascetics temporarily abandon their wandering life and settle down amidst the laity. This is the time when the festival of Paryushan is celebrated and the Kalpasutra is traditionally recited.
One page shows Mahavira's birth, with his mother Trishala and an attendant. It is richly illustrated with gold, green and red paint on a blue and red background, reflecting the importance attached to such manuscripts. One eye of each figure is depicted protruding from the outline of the head, a convention of Indian painting of this date. There is text on the right-hand side and also on the back in Prakrit (IM.161-1914). The other Kalpasutra page has text only (IM.161:A-1914).
One page shows Mahavira's birth, with his mother Trishala and an attendant. It is richly illustrated with gold, green and red paint on a blue and red background, reflecting the importance attached to such manuscripts. One eye of each figure is depicted protruding from the outline of the head, a convention of Indian painting of this date. There is text on the right-hand side and also on the back in Prakrit (IM.161-1914). The other Kalpasutra page has text only (IM.161:A-1914).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Janma (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted on paper |
| Brief description | Illustrated Kalpasutra page, painted on paper, Gujarat, 16th century |
| Physical description | Kalpasutra page with text only with the folio number 3 in Devanagari in the right corner. Both pages have painted medallions on the left and right and in the centre. The designs of these are different between the two pages: red and blue in a circular shape for this page. |
| Marks and inscriptions | '3' [folio number] (devanagri) |
| Credit line | Purchased from Dr A K Coomaraswamy, 39, Brookfield, West Hill, Highgate, N |
| Object history | These manuscript pages were acquired from the influential art-historian A.K. Coomaraswamy (1877-1947) who did much to help improve the understanding of Indian art traditions in the West. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The Kalpasutra (Book of Rituals) is the most important canonical text in Jain literature for the Svetambaras (white-clad), one of the two sects of Jainism. Jainism is one of the oldest religions to have survived until the present time and its basic teaching is one of non-violence. The Kalpasutra is divided into three sections. The first section deals with the lives of the twenty-four Jinas or Tirthankaras, who were the Jain spiritual teachers or 'ford-makers'. The second part deals with the life of Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara. The third part deals with rules for the ascetics and laws during the four months (chaturmas) of the rainy season, when ascetics temporarily abandon their wandering life and settle down amidst the laity. This is the time when the festival of Paryushan is celebrated and the Kalpasutra is traditionally recited. One page shows Mahavira's birth, with his mother Trishala and an attendant. It is richly illustrated with gold, green and red paint on a blue and red background, reflecting the importance attached to such manuscripts. One eye of each figure is depicted protruding from the outline of the head, a convention of Indian painting of this date. There is text on the right-hand side and also on the back in Prakrit (IM.161-1914). The other Kalpasutra page has text only (IM.161:A-1914). |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.161A/1,2-1914 |
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| Record created | November 1, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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