Jain Art

The sub-continent of India has given birth to important religions. Jainism, also known as  Jain Dharma, is an ancient Indian religion. The three main pillars of Jainism are ahimsa (non-violence), anekantavada (non-absolutism), and aparigraha (non-attachment).  ‘Jain art’ refers to religious works of art associated with Jainism. Jainism spread only in some parts of India, but it has made a significant and unique contribution to Indian art and architecture. 

The manuscript text most frequently illustrated is the Kalpasutra,  a book of rituals, containing the biographies of the ‘Tirthankaras’,
notably Parshvanatha and Mahavira. Mahavira was born in the early part of the  6th century BC in Bihar, India. The Kalpasutra is ascribed to Bhadrabahu,  traditionally said to have been
composed  some 150 years after the  'Moksha' of Mahavira. The illustrations are squarish panels set in the text. This ‘sutra’ contains detailed life histories, and from the mid-15th century, was frequently illustrated with miniature painting, in the Western Indian school style. 

The museum collection has Kalpasutras from the 15th to the 18th century, mostly from the life of Mahavira, the 24th ‘tirthankara’. The showcased  folios  are  in Ardha-magadhi Prakrit, in Devanagari script from the 18^th century.
Seven lined scripts are on one side square and a decorated panel is within the overall format.  Few images are from a 16th century set of Kalpasutra manuscript.

Lord Mahavira,  was the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, the spiritual successor of the 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanatha. He was born in the early part of the 6th century BC into a royal Jain family in Bihar, India. His mother's name was Trishala  from the Licchavi dynasty and his father's name was Siddhartha,  from the Ishkavaku dynasty. They were lay devotees of Parshvanatha. Mahavira abandoned all worldly possessions at the age of about 30 and left home in pursuit of spiritual awakening. Mahavira practiced intense meditation and severe austerities for twelve and a half years, after which he attained Kevala Gyan or omniscience. He preached for 30 years and attained Moksha or liberation in the 6th century BC, although the year varies by sect.
In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self. ......thus spake Lord Mahavira.

Mahavira used to play games with other boys. This painting represents the Amalaki Krida in which his detractors wanted to break his spirit and tried different tricks, but he could outdo them easily and emerge victorious.

One day Mahavira was doing a special one night meditation. Sangamaka, a god in Indra’s assembly wanted to disturb the concentration of Mahavira. He created twenty almost fatal situations including storms, attacks by animals etc. to disturb Mahaveer’s meditation; but they failed to disturb Mahavira. This painting depicts the attack on Mahavira.