The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 21, 2024

Folio 40 from a Kalpa-sutra: Text (recto); Birth of Mahavira (verso)

Folio 40 from a Kalpa-sutra: Text (recto); Birth of Mahavira (verso)

c. 1400
gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Overall: 9.4 x 28.4 cm (3 11/16 x 11 3/16 in.)
Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski 1976.27
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

The marginalia beginning with the "=" sign explain the content of the text.

Description

This page describes the joyous and peaceful pregnancy of Queen Trishala, mother of the 24th Jina Mahavira, which lasted 9 months, 7-and-a-half days. It goes on to say that Mahavira was born at midnight on the 13th day of the first month of summer, and all omens augured success. The painting shows the happy mother nestling her infant on a swing.
  • ?–1976
    Dr. Norman Zaworski [1920–2013], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1976–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Leach, Linda York. Indian Miniature Paintings and Drawings. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art in cooperation with Indiana University Press, 1986. Reproduced and mentioned: cat. no. 2, pp. 8-9.
  • Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 245). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (January 5-April 27, 2015).
    Year in Review, 1976. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 1-March 6, 1977).
  • {{cite web|title=Folio 40 from a Kalpa-sutra: Text (recto); Birth of Mahavira (verso)|url=false|author=|year=c. 1400|access-date=21 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1976.27