Which canonical text in the Jain tradition is among the most widely illustrated and provides a biographical narrative for artists to paint?
1) Dipavamsa
2) Kalpasutra
3) Vishnudharmottara
4) Mahavamsa
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is option 2: 2 (Kalpasutra)
Kalpasutra is the canonical text in the Jain tradition that is among the most widely illustrated, providing a biographical narrative for artists to paint.
Among the most widely illustrated canonical text in the Jain tradition is Kalpasutra. It has a section, reciting events from the lives of the 24 Tirthankaras — from their births to salvation — that provides a biographical narrative for artists to paint. The five key incidents roughly elaborated as — conception, birth, renunciation, enlightenment and first sermon, and salvation from the lives of Tirthankaras and events leading to and around these — comprise most part of the Kalpasutra.