A Jain Lotus Mandala

WESTERN INDIA, GUJARAT OR RAJASTHAN, 16TH CENTURY

Details

A Jain Lotus Mandala
Western India, Gujarat or Rajasthan, 16th Century
Finely painted with Parsvanatha seated at the center of an eight-petaled lotus with further deities represented by syllables, encircled by a river and further devotees with their hands folded in adoration, two dancers with flywhisks and lotus flowerheads between pillored gateways, further Jinas arranged in registers at the side and dancers below
44 x 31 in. (112 x 80 cm.)

Lot Essay

The central deity is Parsvanatha sheltered by a naga, alluding to the serpent king Dharanendra who protected Parsvanatha with his hood when the latter was attacked by a titan; compare a narrative painting with scenes from the life of Parsvanatha from the Alvin Bellak collection, in P. Pal, The Peaceful Liberators, 1995, cat. no. 100.

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