Artwork Page for Ritual Bath of Mahavira, Folio 31 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra

Details / Information for Ritual Bath of Mahavira, Folio 31 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra

Ritual Bath of Mahavira, Folio 31 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra

c. 1475–1500

Western India, Gujarat

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Medium
Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Measurements
Overall: 12.5 x 25.7 cm (4 15/16 x 10 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Edward L. Whittemore Fund 1932.119.31.a
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

The large, seated figure in the center of the composition is Indra, king of the gods, who holds in his lap the infant Mahavira, founder of the Jain religion. Indra had taken him to Mount Meru, indicated by the jagged peaks at the bottom of the painting, for his first bath. Two priests flanking them hold vessels for the bath, and the two cows above indicate that the vessels are full of milk. The milk bath washed away all the impurities of the birth.
A horizontally oriented paper folio features a gum tempera and ink painting with gold. On our left, rows of dense, rounded black script are punctuated by red marks and a central red circle. On our right, within a red and blue border, a small figure with light skin sits on the lap of a larger figure with a blue halo. Two attendants stand beside a gold throne above a base of stylized blue flames.

Ritual Bath of Mahavira, Folio 31 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra

c. 1475–1500

Western India, Gujarat

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