Kalpasutra
Manuscript Page
late 15th century to early 16th century (made)
late 15th century to early 16th century (made)
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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.
The folio is labelled 'Raja-Rani'. In it the illustration shows Queen Trishala, who was to become the mother of Mahavira, describing her fourteen dreams to her husband King Siddhartha. She dreamed the fourteen auspicious dreams before the birth of Mahavira. On the reverse there is an illustration in two registers labelled 'the interpreters of dreams'. In the upper register are two brahmins and below is one brahmin with another figure, possibly King Siddhartha.
The folio is labelled 'Raja-Rani'. In it the illustration shows Queen Trishala, who was to become the mother of Mahavira, describing her fourteen dreams to her husband King Siddhartha. She dreamed the fourteen auspicious dreams before the birth of Mahavira. On the reverse there is an illustration in two registers labelled 'the interpreters of dreams'. In the upper register are two brahmins and below is one brahmin with another figure, possibly King Siddhartha.
Object details
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| Materials and techniques | Painted and written in ink, paint and gold on paper |
| Brief description | Jain manuscript page, Kalpasutra, King Siddhartha and Rani Trishula recounting her dreams, 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). In this folio recto in the illustration Trishala describes her fourteen dreams to King Siddhartha. The illustration is on the right of the page, the remainder of which is occupied by text. |
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| Content description | Trishala describes the 14 dreams to King Siddhartha. |
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| Object history | Purchased in 1959 from Mr. A. Shah c/o. Mrs. G.Charlston, London S.W.16. for £48. |
| Production | Western India |
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| 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. The folio is labelled 'Raja-Rani'. In it the illustration shows Queen Trishala, who was to become the mother of Mahavira, describing her fourteen dreams to her husband King Siddhartha. She dreamed the fourteen auspicious dreams before the birth of Mahavira. On the reverse there is an illustration in two registers labelled 'the interpreters of dreams'. In the upper register are two brahmins and below is one brahmin with another figure, possibly King Siddhartha. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.46:30-1959 |
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| Record created | January 9, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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