
Mark Rasmussen
International Director
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US$3,000 - US$4,000
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International Director
The Kalpasutra is a Svetambara Jaina canonical work traditionally, and probably correctly, ascribed to Bhadrabahu. We know that in its present form it is a compilation of older material made in the reign of king Dhruvasena of Gujarat 980 years after Mahavira passed away, e.g. in 454 A.D. The work is supposed to have been recited at Dhruvasena's court to console the king after the death of his beloved son. For this purpose the text was artificially broken up into nine sermons (vyakhyana), a division used today. As is usual the miniatures in this manuscript illustrate the first two books. Both motif and composition follow very closely the standard conventions of this period.