2-732-782 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Kalpa-sutra Manuscript with 24 Miniatures: Siddhartha Hears the Recitation of Trisala's Dreams, c. 1475-1500. King Siddhartha is depicted on this page with his wife, Trishala, who had a series of auspicious dreams associated with her pregnancy. Her child Mahavira would grow up to become the historical founder of the Jain religion in the 500s BC. The royal couple is resplendently enthroned and bedecked in jewelry. Queen Trishala’s bodice was painted with a green pigment made from copper and vinegar; its high acid content caused the paper itself to disintegrate. The lavish use of gold and lapis lazuli indicates that it was a costly production.