What is Kalpa Sutra and why do Jains read it?
It is considered the most sacred text. Devout Jains almost worship this book.
The reason is very simple, this book consists of a biography of Lord Mahavira in detail, and the lives of the other prophets (Tirthankaras).
The book also contains a list of monks from 527 BCE to approximately 500 AD and the code of conduct for Jainmonks.
However, it is the life of Lord Mahavira, which is a favourite among all Jains. The original text was written by Bhadrabahu Swami, who died in the year 357 BCE (the list of monks is not his work).
Nowadays the Kalpa-Sootra is read by Jain monks during the holy festival of Paryushan.This tradition started in Gujarat after a son of the king of Vadanagar died at an early age. The then Acharya Dhaneshvar Soori read Kalpa Sootra to the king. This tradition has continued ever since.
We now celebrate Mahavir Janma Vanchan on the fifth day of the Paryushan festival. This is the day we display 14 dreams of mother Trishla.
The word “Kalpa” has got several meanings. One of the meanings is this: -
“An item which fulfils all wishes”.
Many people believe that a person’s wishes are fulfilled on reading this auspicious and holy book.
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Thank you for the great information!
No problem Nestor.
Have you had time to check out the posts so far about the bhavnas?
Anyway take care and bye for now
Heena
Hi,
I would like to have a copy of Kalpasutra in english language. Is it available in print? Is it available online? How to procure it? Please guide. my address is drhemant 1969 at ya hoo dot co dot in.
I’ll find out for you and get back to you as soon as poss
hi….sister i am rahul from delhi. i need kalpa sootra in hindi & also other holy books plzz reply me as soon as possibel & plz know me that the price too…………plz reply me sooooooooooooooon…………..
Sorry I have no idea
I don’t sell them
I’ve just written about why Jains read it….
Sorry : (
hiiiiiiiii dear all, im priyanka bafna, im jain…..
you all want kalp sutra text ? m i ri8?
you can go to jain temple n ask for it to get 4 u ………….
Regards
Priyanka.
Hi HEENA MODI
I just wanna know the meanings of KALPA SUTRA plz help me out
I’m no expert but this is what it says on Wikipedia.
The Kalpa Sūtra (Sanskrit: कल्पसूत्र) is a Jain text containing the biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras, most notably Parshvanath and Mahavira, including the latter’s Nirvana.
Also I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum yesterday
There’s an exhibition showing 9 pages of the Kalpa Sutra.
They’re amazing!
I really recommend for anyone who’s interested in Jainism, Jain art, Jain scriptures to go along. If there are 10 or more, you can request for a guide to talk you through the exhibition. That will be of no extra cost and it’s really worth it! It makes it a far richer experience : )
If you go to the V and A website and search for under exhibitions, the 7th in the list is called Jain Manuscripts. That’s what I saw and explored with a tour guide yesterday.
The description of the exhibition is: –
14 May 2010 – 31 December 2012
South Asia, room 41
Free admission
Created to accompany the launch of JAINpedia – an ambitious project digitising Jain manuscripts in the UK – this small display shows finely illustrated Jain manuscript pages from the 15th to 19th centuries. Manuscripts were preserved in temple libraries, however the V&A’s collection includes examples in a range of styles, some never displayed before.
Photo
Thank yu HEENA JI
No probs at all
Heena please pass the message that live and let live
It is also said that if we manage to read The “KALPASUTRA” atleast thrice in our life time we will definetly be able to attain moksha and liberate ourselves from this vicious circle of life and death.
Hmm. I’m not sure if that would be enough. We’d need to understand it, apply it i.e. not just ‘talk the talk’ but ‘walk the talk’ & our thought, speech & conduct would need to improve so that we shed our karmic bondage and bind less.
What do you think?
Hi Heena,
Today i attended vyakhyan where maharaj saheb was reading kalpasutra. He told kalpasutra is to be read only by sadhu maharajsaheb and nobody else. He also added kalpasutra includes all principles of monk”s life which were made nearly after 100 yrs after nirvana of lord mahavir.
Can i get whole contain of KALPSUTRA on net?
I don’t know.
I’ve not tried to find it or purchase it.
Sorry.
hi Heena,
First of all let me tell you that you are doing a very good job by posting about Kalpasutra.
I have been attending Marahsaab’s(saints) pravachans during these auspiscious days of Holy Paryushan. I am greatly moved by the contents in Kalpasutras. But the knowledge passed on is just a section of Kalpasutra. In today’s world we are not lucky enough to get the complete gist of Kalpasutra.
It has also been found that foreign authors have done translations of this pure sutras, which seem to be a little inappropriate. Because this holy sutra is to be read by qualified punyatmas only.
I leave this comment at this point for now.
There’s plenty to share.
jai jinendra
pls tell me in which language kalpsutra was write
Hi ya Vikram
Sanskrit I think : )
Greetings, sister. Thank you for your tutorial. For those who are in search of the Divine you can find the full text of Kalpasutra, as well as many others sacred texts, here http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b6000521k/f1.image.r=sanscrit.langEN
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