Siddhartha listens to interpretations of Trishala's dreams, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)

When Mahavira, the last of the great teachers in the Jain religion, was to be born, his mother, Trishala, had fourteen lucky dreams. Her husband, Siddhartha (a person different from the historical Buddha of the same name), summoned astrologers and expounders of dreams to interpret them. They decided the baby would either be a universal emperor or a universal religious savior—a jina, or spiritual victor. In this painting Siddhartha is shown sitting on an elaborate throne surmounted by a parasol; the learned men sit facing him.

The Kalpasutra is an important Jain text the early sections of which tell the stories of the lives of the twenty-four jinas, several in some detail. Mahavira's life is told at great length, with concentration on important scenes that illustrate commonalities in the spiritual growth of the jinas. These life stories are followed by rules for monks during the rainy season (when they cannot wander about and beg alms). During this season the Kalpasutra is read to the faithful, and commentary often added to its pages; the smaller script around the central text panel here is an example.