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The Jain teacher Parshvanatha, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
The Jain teacher Parshvanatha, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)

The Jain teacher Parshvanatha, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)

Place of OriginGujarat state or Rajasthan state, India
Dateapprox. 1500
CultureJain
MaterialsOpaque watercolors and gold on paper
DimensionsH. 4 1/2 in x W. 11 7/8 in, H. 11.5 cm x W. 30.2 cm
Credit LineGift of Dr. and Mrs. David Buchanan
Object number2007.35
DepartmentSouth Asian Art
ClassificationsPainting
On View
Not on view
More Information
This folio is from a text that focuses on the lives of the early teachers of Jainism. Although the Kalpasutra centers on the birth and life of the historical Mahavira, a contemporary of the Buddha, this painting depicts an earlier Jain teacher, Parshvanatha, who is thought to have preceded Mahavira by about 250 years. In sculpture and painting, Parshvanatha is recognizable by the seven-hooded snake that forms a canopy over his head.
Subject
  • Kalpasutra
The Brahman Kamatha performs austerities with fire while the Jain teacher Parshvanatha tries to save a snake from the fire, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
The Brahman Kamatha performs austerities with fire while the Jain teacher Parshvanatha tries to save a snake from the fire, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1450
The Jain teacher Parshvanatha plucks out his hair, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
The Jain teacher Parshvanatha plucks out his hair, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1450
The birth of the Jain teacher Parshvanatha, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
The birth of the Jain teacher Parshvanatha, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1475-1500
The Jain teacher Mahavira in heaven, page from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
The Jain teacher Mahavira in heaven, page from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1450
An enthroned Jain teacher, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
An enthroned Jain teacher, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1450
The Jain teacher Nemi is anointed in preparation for his wedding, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
The Jain teacher Nemi is anointed in preparation for his wedding, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1450
The Jain teacher Nemi abandons his bride-to-be, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
The Jain teacher Nemi abandons his bride-to-be, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1450
Gotama, the chief disciple of the Jain teacher Mahavira, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
Gotama, the chief disciple of the Jain teacher Mahavira, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1600-1700
The commander of the celestial army takes an embryo from a brahman caste woman, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
The commander of the celestial army takes an embryo from a brahman caste woman, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1450
The commander of the celestial army takes an embryo from a brahman caste woman, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
The commander of the celestial army takes an embryo from a brahman caste woman, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1450
Birth of Mahavira, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
Birth of Mahavira, from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1450
Mahavira as a young man on an elephant, Mahavira and friend at school in front of Indra (Shakra), from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
Mahavira as a young man on an elephant, Mahavira and friend at school in front of Indra (Shakra), from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Book of Ritual)
approx. 1450