Kalpa Sūtra

Part of a series on
Jainism
Jains History Timeline Index
Philosophy Anekantavada Cosmology Ahimsa Karma Dharma Mokṣa Kevala Jnana Dravya Tattva Brahmacarya Aparigraha Gunasthana Saṃsāra
Ethics Ethics of Jainism Mahavratas (major vows) Ahiṃsā (non-violence) Satya (truth) Asteya (non-stealing) Brahmacarya (chastity) Aparigraha (non-possession) Anuvratas (further vows) Sāmāyika Sallekhana
Jain prayers Bhaktamara Stotra Micchami Dukkadam Ṇamōkāra mantra Jai Jinendra
Major figures The 24 Tirthankaras Rishabha Pārśva Mahavira Arihant Ganadhara Kundakunda Siddhasena Samantabhadra Haribhadra Yashovijaya
Major sects Schools and Branches Digambara Śvetāmbara
Jain literature Samayasāra (Digambara) Pravachanasara (Digambara) Agama (Śvetāmbara) Tattvartha Sutra Dravyasamgraha (Digambara) Kalpa Sūtra (Śvetāmbara) Uttaradhyayana (Śvetāmbara) Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi Silappatikaram Valayapathi
Festivals Diwali Mahavir Janma Kalyanak Paryushana Samvatsari
Pilgrimages Tirth Abu Palitana Girnar Shikharji Shravanabelagola
Other Temples Jain flag Jain symbols Parasparopagraho Jivanam Topics list
Religion portal
v t e

The Kalpa Sūtra (Sanskrit: कल्पसूत्र) is a Jain text containing the biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras, notably Parshvanatha and Mahavira.^[1] Traditionally ascribed to Bhadrabahu, which would place it in the 4th century BCE,^[2] it was probably put in writing 980 or 993 years after the Nirvana (Moksha) of Mahavira.

History

Within the six sections of the Jain literary corpus belonging to the Svetambara 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.^{[citation needed]}

The Kalpa Sutra is ascribed to Bhadrabahu, traditionally said to have composed it some 150 years after the Nirvāṇa (samadhi) of Mahavira.^[2] It was compiled probably during the reign of Dhruvasena, 980 or 993 years after Mahavira's death.^[3]

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.

Contents

Kalpasutra mentions nine Ganas and 11 Ganadharas of Mahavira.^[4] Bhadrabahu is mentioned as prime Ganadhara of Mahavira.^[4] Bhadrabahu's disciple Godasa is mentioned to have founded Godasa Gana.^[4]

See also

• Neminatha
• Parshvanatha

References

Citations

Sources

• Dundas, Paul (2002) [1992], The Jains (Second ed.), Routledge, ISBN 0-415-26605-X
• Jain, Kailash Chand (1991), Lord Mahāvīra and His Times, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-81-208-0805-8
• Vyas, R. T., ed. (1995), Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects, The Director, Oriental Institute, on behalf of the Registrar, M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, ISBN 81-7017-316-7
• "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) ISBN 81-208-0123-7

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kalpa Sutra.