Miniature of Jain Kalpa sutra; Mahavira scenes
Date15th century
Maker
Indian
Label TextThe Kalpasutra, one of the fundamental texts of Jainism, narrates the life of Mahavira (6th or 5th century BCE), last of the 24 jinas (conquerors). Through renunciation and nonviolence, the jinas perfected themselves and achieved moksha (release from the cycle of rebirth). Wealthy Jains often commissioned Kalpasutras illustrated with Mahavira’s key life scenes and donated them to monastic libraries. The horizontal orientation of the pages mimics early Indian books created on palm leaf, a format still used for many Jain, Buddhist, and Hindu scriptures.
Object number51.56
Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection
Dimensions4 5/16 x 3 1/8 in. (10.96 x 7.94 cm)
Overall h.: 4 5/16 in.
Overall w.: 10 5/16 in.
MediumOpaque watercolor and gold on paper
Mughal
late 16th century
Object number: 46.28
Mukhlis and Madhva Khurd
ca. 1570
Object number: 68.160
Indian
1525-1550
Object number: 62.90
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