The Kalpa-sūtra is the most frequently illustrated Jain text of the Śvetāmbara sect. It is read and recited by monks in the Śvetāmbara festival of Paryuṣaṇ, which takes place in August to September each year.

The Kālakācārya-kathā – Story of the religious teacher Kālaka – is frequently found as an appendix to the Kalpa-sūtra because the last part explains how Kālaka changed the date of Paryuṣaṇ. This tale emphasises the connection between religious practice and magical abilities. 

The annual festival of Paryuṣaṇ was moved from the fifth day of the bright half of the month Bhādrapada – roughly equivalent to August to September – to the fourth.

The author, or authors, of the Kalpa-sūtra is unknown, although it is attributed to Bhadrabāhu. The version of the Kālakācārya-kathā here is that of Bhāvadeva-sūri, a Śvetāmbara author of the 13th century CE.