{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O143116"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O143116/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010ED7794/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010ED7794/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010ED7794","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O143116/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O143116","accessionNumber":"IS.46:43-1959","objectType":"Manuscript page","titles":[{"title":"Kalpasutra","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"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.\r\nThe folio shows 'Dana' or gift-giving. Here, Mahavira gives away his wordly possessions before initiation as a monk. An elderly man with a white beard (a brahmin or priest) receives part of Mahavira's possessions. Above are two younger mendicants holding gifts. On the reverse of the page is another illustration showing Mahavira being carried on a palanquin by four bearers at the time of his initiation.","physicalDescription":"Page recto of a manuscript, ink, paint and gold on paper, of the<i> Kalpasutra,</i> 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).\r\nThis folio recto depicts Mahavira giving away his possessions. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"},{"text":"paper","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},{"text":"written","id":"AAT54698"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Painted and written in ink, paint and gold on paper","categories":[{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"},{"text":"Jain","id":"THES49013"},{"text":"Manuscripts","id":"THES48922"},{"text":"Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project","id":"THES263148"}],"styles":[{"text":"Western Indian painting style","id":"x46887"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2010ED7794"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES403770"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"page","id":"AAT194222"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Gujarat","id":"x29825"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 15th century to early 16th century","earliest":"1450-01-01","latest":"1550-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"10.25","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"4.25","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Double-ruled red margins, filled with gold on both sides.\r\nIllustrations colour used blue, black, red, white, silver and gold.","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased in 1959 from Mr. A. Shah c/o. Mrs. G.Charlston, London S.W.16. for £48.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Jain manuscript page, <i>Kalpasutra</i>, Mahavira giving away possessions, ink, paint and gold on paper, Gujarat, late 15th and early 16th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Masterpieces of the Kalpasutra Paintings, Sarbhai M. Nawab. 1956."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Catalogue of the Jain Manuscripts of the British Library, Vol.2, page 87, Cat. no. 107."}],"production":"Western India","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"Mahavira giving away his possessions. ","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Mahavira","id":"N1708"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"Dana","id":"V969"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"Gifts","id":"AAT138913"},{"text":"Palanquin","id":"AAT238473"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Jainism","id":"AAT143540"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"BELOW: MAHAVIRA GIVING AWAY HIS POSSESSIONS\r\nIS.46:43-1959\r\nThe Kalpasutra recounts that after his parents’ death, Mahavira gave up his comfortable life to become a wandering beggar. Here he is depicted giving away his possessions before his initiation as a Jain monk. He achieved enlightenment and eventually moksha, the final liberation from the world of birth, death and rebirth. Gold and ultramarine blue were used lavishly in many Jain manuscripts after around 1450.","date":{"text":"01/08/2017","earliest":"2017-08-01","latest":"2017-08-01"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.46:43-1959"],"accessionNumberNum":"46","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1959,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-05","recordCreationDate":"2008-01-09","availableToBook":false}}