The ''Kalpa Sūtra'' () is a Jain text containing the biographies of the Jain

Tirthankara In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (; ) is a saviour and supreme preacher of the ''Dharma (Jainism), dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a ''Tirtha (Jainism), tirtha'', a fordable passage across ''Saṃsā ...

s, notably Parshvanatha and

Mahavira Mahavira (Devanagari: महावीर, ), also known as Vardhamana (Devanagari: वर्धमान, ), was the 24th ''Tirthankara'' (Supreme Preacher and Ford Maker) of Jainism. Although the dates and most historical details of his lif ...

. Traditionally ascribed to Bhadrabahu, which would place it in the 4th century BCE, it was probably put in writing 980 or 993 years after the ''Nirvana'' ('' Moksha'') of Mahavira or 1230 years after the Nirvana of Tirthankar Parswanath.

History

Within the six sections of the Jain literary corpus belonging to the

Śvetāmbara The Śvetāmbara (; also spelled Shwetambara, Shvetambara, Svetambara or Swetambara) is one of the two main branches of Jainism, the other being the Digambara. ''Śvetāmbara'' in Sanskrit means "white-clad", and refers to its ascetics' practi ...

school, it is classed as one of the Cheda Sūtras. This Sutra contains detailed life histories and, from the mid-15th century, was frequently illustrated with miniature painting. The oldest surviving copies are written on paper in western India in the 14th century. The Kalpa Sutra is ascribed to Bhadrabahu, traditionally said to have composed it some 150 years after the ''Nirvāṇa'' ( samadhi) of Mahavira. It was compiled probably during the reign of

Dhruvasena The Maitraka dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Valabhi in western India from approximately 475 to 776 from their capital at Vallabhi. With the sole exception of Dharapaṭṭa (the fifth king in the dynasty), who is associated with Solar deity, sun-w ...

, 980 or 993 years after Mahavira's death.

Importance

The book is read and illustrated in an eight-day-long festival of Paryushan by Jain monks for general people. Only monks can read the scriptures, as in Jainism, this book has very high spiritual values. Kalpasutra Mahavira Nirvana

Kalpasutra mentions nine Ganas and 11 Ganadharas of

. Gautama Swami is mentioned as prime Ganadhara of Mahavira. Bhadrabahu's disciple Godasa is mentioned to have founded Godasa Gana.

References

Citations

Sources

* * * *"The Kalpa Sûtra" translated in English by Hermann Jacobi is published by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers in Delhi in " The Sacred Books of the East" (Vol 22) (1989)

External links

; Translations
Kalpa Sutra text (1884 English translation)
(sacred-texts.com)
Kalpa Sutra text (1884 English translation)
(Wisdom Library)
The Kalpa sutra, and Nava tatva (1848 English translation)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kalpa Sutra Atomism Jain texts Indian biographies