INDIA, RAJASTHAN, 18TH CENTURY

Details

A Rare Gilt Marble Relief of a Cosmic Man, Lokapurusha
India, Rajasthan, 18th Century
The large marble frieze carved with figures in relief in 17 horizontal registers within a geometric diagram subdivided at center by the Jambudvipa (Middle World) within a series of concentric circles surrounded by a fruit and peepal leaf border and a square border containing stars, the moon and sun; the lower registers depicting animal-headed figures as a representation of various levels of hells; the upper registers with devotees worshipping enshrined Jinas and celestials in heavenly pavilions; the topmost level depicting Jinas on chariots of mythical creatures, elephants, and geese centered by a crescent moon; surrounded at the sides by trees and figures bearing flywhisks lustrating or paying obeisance to the Jinas at top and palace scenes below; bearing remains of gilding overall; the rectangular panel at bottom with black parquetry double bands
74¾ x 33¼ x 1¾ in. (190 x 84.5 x 4.5 cm.)

Literature

J. van Alphen, Steps to Liberation: 2,500 Years of Jain Art and Religion, 2000, cat. no. 40.

Exhibited

Antwerp, Etnografisch Museum Antwerpen, Steps to Liberation: 2,500 Years of Jain Art and Religion, 2000, cat. no. 40.

Lot Essay

The shape of the cosmos in Jain thought is comparable to a man standing akimbo-broadest at the legs and chest and narrowest at the middle section and top. The abstracted human figure is analogous to the macro and microcosm. The lokapurusha signifies external and internal pilgrimage within a single contemplative act. The whole universe is experienced internally and corporeally where each physical location has a bodily counterpart. The notion of karma: the consequences of actions and deeds is also reflected in this cosmic diagram.

Mortals reside in the circular middle world at the center of the 'body'. Around the mythical Mount Meru, an axis mundi linking the upper and lower realms, are the continents, oceans and rivers. Below this map of the world are eight registers of hells, where sinners are tormented by animal-headed beings and punishments inflicted upon the damned. Above are eight levels of heavens divided into three columns richly decorated with male and female devotees worshipping the 24 Jinas. At the ninth level, within a recumbent crescent moon, the most perfect of spiritual beings, the Jinas, reside having attained liberation from re-birth.

While it is fairly common for large cloth (pata) depictions of the Lokapurusha to have been commissioned, it is rare to find examples in stone.

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