Kalpasutra, Kalpasūtra, Kalpa-sutra: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Kalpasutra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र).—A branch of Vedic literature, arranged by lomaharṣaṇa;1 begun in Dvāpara.2
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Kalpa Sūtrās deal with the rules, regulations and austerities of yajña, the geometry of altars, and the rites to be undertaken at each stage of life.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
The Kalpa Sūtra (कल्पसूत्र) is a Jain text containing the biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras, notably Parshvanath and Mahavira, including the latter's Nirvana. Bhadrabahu I is considered the author of the text and it is traditionally said to have been composed about one hundred and fifty years after Nirvāṇa of Mahavira (traditionally 599 – 527 BCE).
Within the six sections of the Jain literary corpus belonging to the Svetambara school, it is classed as one of the Cheda Sūtras. This Sutra contains detailed life histories and, from the mid-15th century, was frequently illustrated with miniature painting. The oldest surviving copies are written on paper in western India in the 14th century.
Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र).—The Jain kalpasūtra manuscripts transcribe the text ascribed to Bhadrabāhu who compiled his version during the 7th century. Many Jain donors’ families commissioned illustrated manuscripts as part of their sacred texts. The kalpasūtra text is full of detailed descriptions which enable us to identify the different components of the pictorial compositions and episodes. The birth of Mahāvīra is an epochal event which is in the form of an embryo placed in the womb of Brāhmaṇī Devānandā who was the wife of the Brāhmin Ṛṣabhadutta and they resided in Mahānkundagrāma.
Kalpasutra is the earliest Jain text which gives the account of 24 Tirthankaras. Though many historians doubted the historicity of early Tirthankaras, but it appears that all 24 Tirthankaras were historic personalities. All of them were Kshatriyas and belonged to Ikshvaku dynasty except Munisuvrata (20th) and Nami (21st) who belonged to Harivamsa.
Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र) (traditionally attributed to Bhadrabāhu) is a major canonical text of the ŚvetāmbaraJains, composed in Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit, in a mixture of prose and verse, and containing the life-stories of the twenty-four Jinas, in particular Neminātha, Pārśvanātha and Mahāvīra.
The Kalpasūtra or Pajjosavaṇakappasutta has three main sections, each dealing with a fundamental aspect of the Jain tradition: 1) The Jinacaritra narrates in detail the lives of four of the twenty four Jinas; 2) The Sthavirāvalī, where homage is paid to a number of Jain teachers; 3) The Sāmācārī gives rules and regulations for monastic life during the special period of the rainy season.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र).—a manual of ritual in the form of Sūtras. Mahābhārata (Bombay) 14.54.9. Name of a sacred Jaina book written by भद्रबाहु (bhadrabāhu) sketching the life of महावीर (mahāvīra).
Derivable forms: kalpasūtram (कल्पसूत्रम्).
Kalpasūtra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kalpa and sūtra (सूत्र).
Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र).—n. a sūtra or rule concerning ritual.
Kalpasūtra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kalpa and sūtra (सूत्र).
Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र).—[neuter] a Sutra work on ritual.
1) Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—[anonymous] Oppert. Ii, 2321. 4511.
2) Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र):—[tantric] by Paraśurāma. See Vidyākalpasūtra.
3) Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र):—See Āpastamba, Āśvalāyana, Kātyāyana, Drāhyāyaṇa, Baudhāyana, Bhāradvāja, Maśaka, Mānava, Lāṭyāyana, Vaikhānasa, Śāṅkhāyana, Hiraṇyakeśin.
Kalpasūtra has the following synonyms: Śrautasūtra.
4) Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र):—Sv. Oudh. Xx, 16.
5) Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र):—[tantric] ascribed to Agastya. Rgb. 957.
1) Kalpasūtra (कल्पसूत्र):—[=kalpa-sūtra] [from kalpa] n. Name of various ceremonial guides or manuals containing short aphoristic rules for the performance of Vedic sacrifices
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a medicinal work
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a Jaina work giving the life of Mahāvīra
4) Kālpasūtra (काल्पसूत्र):—[from kālpa] m. ([from] kalpa-s), one who is familiar with the Kalpa-sūtras, [Pāṇini 4-2, 60; Kāśikā-vṛtti]
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Sutra, Vinayasutra, Kalpa.
Starts with: Kalpasutracurni, Kalpasutravacuri, Kalpasutravyakhya.
Full-text (+112): Kalpasutravyakhya, Vidyakalpasutra, Shraddhakalpasutra, Paryushana, Poya, Kaundinyaka, Paushadha, Kulamulavatarakalpasutra, Drahyayana, Paryushitavya, Kalpasutravacuri, Sthaviravali, Kalpasutracurni, Parashuramakalpasutra, Makasa, Jitakalpasutra, Baudhayana, Vaiyavrittya, Harinegamesi, Katiyakalpasutra.
Relevant text
Search found 103 books and stories containing Kalpasutra, Kalpa-sutra, Kalpa-sūtra, Kalpa-sutras, Kalpasūtra, Kālpasūtra; (plurals include: Kalpasutras, sutras, sūtras, sutrases, Kalpasūtras, Kālpasūtras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Social Message of the Upanishads (by Sanchita Kundu)
Glories of India (Culture and Civilization) (by Prasanna Kumar Acharya)
Introduction to the Sutra class of literature < [Chapter 7 - Original literatures]
Introduction to the Vedangas (limbs of the Veda) < [Chapter 7 - Original literatures]
Sacraments in ancient India < [Chapter 1 - Family life of Sacraments and Sacrifices]
Kausika Sutra (study) (by V. Gopalan)
Introduction (a): The pedigree of the Kalpa Sutras especially the Grihya
Atithi or Guest Reception (study) (by Sarika. P.)
Part 2 - Introduction to the Dharmasūtra Literature < [Chapter 5 - The Dharmaśāstra Literature]
Part 1 - Introduction to the Dharmaśāstra Literature < [Chapter 5 - The Dharmaśāstra Literature]
Part 10 - Prayogas (performance of rituals) < [Chapter 5 - The Dharmaśāstra Literature]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Vasudevavijaya of Vasudeva (Study) (by Sajitha. A)
Vedāṅga (six auxiliary disciplines) < [Chapter 5 - Impact of other Disciplines in Vāsudevavijaya]
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