A Meditating Jina with Two Attendant Deities
Description
Jina, literally meaning the conqueror, is the title of an enlightened being who is freed from the chain of rebirth.
When it came to representing the 24 Jinas, the Jains did not distinguish them very clearly. They are all shown either standing upright or seated in meditation in the mode seen here. Depending on the order, Shvetambara or Digambara, they are clothed or naked respectively. They have the same hairstyle as the Buddha but without the cranial bump. With the
exception of three, most Jinas can be identified by the depiction of their mount on the pedestal or their attendants who are called yaksha (male) and yakshi (female).
In this instance neither can the attendants be identified nor is there a symbolic marker on the pedestal. Nevertheless it is a classic Jain ensemble in the style that has become well established as “Akota”, from the site in Gujarat which yielded a large number of bronzes with even more elaborate compositions. Some have inscriptions which inform us that the
metal images were generally dedicated in temples as acts of piety.
Collection
Jain Art
Object Type
Figurine
Material
Copper alloy
Schools/Culture/Period
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Technique
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Date
8th century CE
Location
Akota, Gujarat
Dimension
13 cm