Two Jain Kalpasutra manuscript leaves Western India, probably Gujarat, circa 1475

Two Jain Kalpasutra manuscript leaves Western India, probably Gujarat, circa 1475 Jain Prakrit manuscript on paper, nine lines of nagari text to the page written in black ink, red circular imitation pothi mark, each leaf with painting in gouache and gold, framed together each leaf 113 x 250 mm.; frame 42.5 x 41 cm. Footnotes: Provenance Sotheby's New York, Important Indian Paintings from the Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck Collection, 22nd March 2002, lot 1. Private UK collection. The illustration in the upper leaf (no. 13 in the series) depicts Queen Trisala reclining on her couch. The lower depicts Mahavira plucking out his hair, which is caught up by Sakra. John Guy comments on the significance and use of Kalpasutra manuscripts, even today: '...both the recitation and the worship of the Kalpasutra manuscript form important parts of the annual paryushana festival, celebrated by the Svetambara Jains during the monsoon season. The text is recited, and members of the congregation seek an opportunity to momentarily hold the sacred text, as if to symbolically read and absorb its holy message. Copies are carried in procession, and wealthy members of the lay community compete through donations for the privilege of having the recitation manuscript worshipped in their home overnight. On the last day of the eight-day ceremony the text is recited in full, and the illustrated folios are held up to the congregation. This public showing has a dual purpose: to provide darsana, a holy viewing, and to fulfil the more mundane but no less important storytelling role.'. (See 'Jain Manuscript Painting', in P. Pal (ed.), The Peaceful Liberators: Jain Art from India, Los Angeles 1994, pp. 88-99, quotation from p. 91). For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing