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Not currently on display at the V&A

Kalpasutra

Manuscript Page
late 15th century to early 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.
Two images are shown on one side of this folio. They concern Arishtanemi (Neminatha), the 22nd Jina, who is believed to have been a cousin of Krishna's. The image on the left shows Arishtanemi's birth. The new born child in a cot and the mother are attended by the maid servant. In the image on the right, in the upper register Arishtanemi rides to meet his bride-to-be, Rajimati, who is holding a mirror and waiting for the groom. Below, Arishtanemi sees the terrified animals in their pen awaiting slaughter for the wedding feast and decides he cannot go through with it. He turns his chariot around and leaves to renounce the world.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleKalpasutra (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted and written in ink, paint and gold on paper
Brief description
Jain manuscript page, Kalpasutra, birth of Aristanemi, ink, paint and gold on paper, Gujarat, late 15th and early 16th century
Physical description
Page recto of a manuscript of the Kalpasutra, ink, paint and gold on paper, consisting of 91 folios, numbered 1-92, with folio 3 missing and containing 38 illustrations. The text is written in black ink in Prakrit, seven lines to the page between red and gold marginal rules and blue border decoration. The text of a Sanskrit commentary is inserted in small Nagari characters in the margins. Central and marginal string-holes are decorated but not pierced and on the obverse of each folio the central hole only is marked. Folio numbers are written in the lower right-hand corner of the reverse of each folio but are defective from folio 85 onwards due to insect damage. The colophon is written in red on f.92 verso (see Marks). This folio recto depicts the birth of Aristanemi, also known as Neminatha, (left) and Aristanemi riding to meet his bride and renouncing his marriage out of compassion for the sacrificial animals (right).
Dimensions
  • Length: 10.25in
  • Height: 4.25in
Double-ruled red margins, filled with gold on both sides. Illustrations colour used blue, black, red, white, silver and gold.
Content description
The birth of Aristanemi (left) and Aristanemi riding to meet his bride and renouncing his marriage out of compassion for the sacrificial animals.
Style
Gallery label
PAGES FROM A KALPASUTRA MANUSCRIPT. Opaque watercolour with gold on paper. Western India, probably Gujarat, late 15th or early 16th century ABOVE: THE BIRTH OF NEMINATHA, AND NEMINATHA TURNS AWAY FROM HIS WEDDING FEAST IS.46:59-1959 Unique episodes in the biographies of certain Jinas were often depicted. At top right, Neminatha, the 22nd Jina, rides to meet his bride-to-be, Rajimati, who is holding a mirror. Below, Neminatha sees the terrified animals in their pen awaiting slaughter for the wedding feastand decides he cannot go through with it. He turns his chariot around and leaves to renounce the world.(14.05.2010)
Object history
Purchased in 1959 from Mr. A. Shah c/o. Mrs. G.Charlston, London S.W.16. for £48.
Production
Western India
Subjects 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.
Two images are shown on one side of this folio. They concern Arishtanemi (Neminatha), the 22nd Jina, who is believed to have been a cousin of Krishna's. The image on the left shows Arishtanemi's birth. The new born child in a cot and the mother are attended by the maid servant. In the image on the right, in the upper register Arishtanemi rides to meet his bride-to-be, Rajimati, who is holding a mirror and waiting for the groom. Below, Arishtanemi sees the terrified animals in their pen awaiting slaughter for the wedding feast and decides he cannot go through with it. He turns his chariot around and leaves to renounce the world.
Bibliographic references
  • Masterpieces of the Kalpasutra Paintings, Sarbhai M. Nawab. 1956.
  • Catalogue of the Jain Manuscripts of the British Library, Vol.2, page 87, Cat. no. 107.
  • Barnard, Nick, Arts of Asia, Vol. no. 46, no 1, "The Jain Collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum". January-February 2016 p. 102, no.17
Collection
Accession number
IS.46:59-1959

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Record createdJanuary 9, 2008
Record URL
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