King Siddharta Listens to an Astrologer Forecast the Conception and Birth of His Son, the Jina Mahavira: Folio from a Kalpasutra Manuscript

Unknown artist

The story of Mahavira as recounted by Hemachandra tells of the jina's father, King Siddhartha, summoning astrologers to his court to interpret Queen Trisala's dreams of a future son. They foretell that their son will be either a universal ruler (chakravartin) or a universal religious savoir, a jina. The dynamic and engaging scene shows a masterful control of form-defining line and a sensitive use of gesture. Both figures wear finely embroidered translucent muslins and are sheltered by honorific umbrellas.