Queen Trisala Nursing the Newborn Mahavira: Folio from a Kalpasutra Manuscript

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant tradition of Jain manuscript painting from 15th-century Gujarat, exquisite folio from a *Kalpasutra* captures a tender moment: Queen Trisala nursing the newborn Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism. The *Kalpasutra*, a text recounting the lives of revered spiritual teachers, was frequently illustrated in opulent manuscripts for temple rituals and monastic study. Produced in western India, where Jain communities flourished under prosperous patrons, these folios served as devotional aids, blending narrative storytelling with profound religious symbolism. Here, the qu...