Kalakacarya-katha: A Jaina Monk’s Tryst with the Scythians as Represented in the Illustrated Manuscripts from Western India

The article discusses an ancient Jaina legend dating back 2000 years, which revolves around the abduction of a nun named Sarasvati by the king of Ujjayini, and the subsequent involvement of a Saka (Scythian) king in her rescue. The story was recorded in Prakrit and Gujarati a thousand years later and was illustrated and included in Kalpasutra manuscripts five hundred years after that. The article explores the illustrations from manuscripts commissioned in Western India, particularly Gujarat, for their patrons, the Sultanates of Jaunpur, Ahmedabad, and Malwa. These illustrations shed light on the storyline, highlighting the use of yogic power and moral themes, providing insight into the meaning behind the Svetambara sect’s legend and its representation in Western Indian Art history.