Who painted Birth of Mahavira, folio 40 (verso) from a Kalpa-sutra?

Birth of Mahavira, folio 40 (verso) from a Kalpa-sutra was painted by Unknown in 1400.

Where can I see Birth of Mahavira, folio 40 (verso) from a Kalpa-sutra?

Birth of Mahavira, folio 40 (verso) from a Kalpa-sutra is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

Artwork

Birth of Mahavira, folio 40 (verso) from a Kalpa-sutra

Birth of Mahavira, folio 40 (verso) from a Kalpa-sutra is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1400 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The object is a single folio, numbered 40 (verso), from a Kalpa‑sutra manuscript.

About this work

Overview

The object is a single folio, numbered 40 (verso), from a Kalpa‑sutra manuscript. It consists of a light‑brown, aged paper leaf on which dense black ink text is arranged in tight, orderly rows. The page bears a thin red border along its edges and a central decorative motif of a red circle containing a white dot.

Subject & Meaning

The manuscript records a narrative concerning the birth of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. As a Kalpa‑sutra, the text would have been used for ritual recitation and instruction, preserving the doctrinal account of Mahavira’s origins for monastic and lay audiences.

Technique & Style

The script is executed in black ink with a uniform hand, typical of Indian manuscript production in the early medieval period. The red border and central emblem reflect conventional decorative practices, where colored pigments were applied to frame the text and signal important sections.

History & Provenance

The folio is part of a larger manuscript that has survived in a worn condition, indicating extensive use. It is presently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, which acquired it as part of its collection of South Asian religious manuscripts.

Context

Kalpa‑sutras form a genre of Jain literature that compiles cosmology, legends, and ritual prescriptions. This particular leaf, focusing on Mahavira’s birth, would have been read during ceremonies commemorating the Tirthankara’s life, situating the work within the broader devotional and educational practices of Jain communities.