Leaf from a Kalpa Sutra (Jain Book of Rituals) 15th century

This 15th-century leaf from a Kalpa Sutra, a Jain book of rituals, is a beautiful example of Indian manuscript art. It displays the artist's skill with intricate detail in the script and figures. The page is decorated with a colorful border, including a seated Jina, a central figure in Jainism, with attendants. The leaf is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The script is in Prakrit, a language spoken in ancient India, and the text is likely a part of the Jain religious teachings. This leaf, like many others from the manuscript, demonstrates the rich history of artistic traditions in India and their connection to religious practice.