Background
The Kalpa-sūtra is the most frequently illustrated Jain text of the Śvetāmbara sect. It is read and recited by monks in the festival of Paryuṣaṇ, which takes place in August to September each year.
The first part of the Kalpa-sūtra deals with the lives of the Jinas, especially Mahāvīra, Pārśva, Nemi and Ṛṣabha. It features almost identical stories of their births, lives as princes, renunciation, enlightenment and emancipation.
The second part – Sthavirāvali – is a praise of the early teachers of Jainism. The third part – Sāmācārī – deals with particular monastic rules to be followed during the rainy season.
Glossary
- Source:
The British Library Board
- Shelfmark:
Or. 13455
- Author:
unknown
- Date of creation:
14 to 15th centuries
- Folio number:
- Total number of folios:
91
- Place of creation:
western India
- Language:
Ardhamāgadhī Prākrit and Sanskrit in Devanāgarī script
- Medium:
paper
- Size:
28 x 9 cms
- Copyright:
CC0 1.0 (Creative Commons Public Domain)
- Image Copyright:
Section on Mahāvīra
- Source:
The British Library Board
- Shelfmark:
Or. 13455
- Author:
unknown
- Date of creation:
14 to 15th centuries
- Folio number:
- Total number of folios:
91
- Place of creation:
western India
- Language:
Ardhamāgadhī Prākrit and Sanskrit in Devanāgarī script
- Medium:
paper
- Size:
28 x 9 cms
- Copyright:
CC0 1.0 (Creative Commons Public Domain)
- Image Copyright:
Kalpa-sūtra (IM 08-1931)
Victoria and Albert Museum IM 8-1931 unknown second half of the 15th century
