The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of May 13, 2024
Ritual Bath of Mahavira, Folio 31 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra
c. 1475–1500
Overall: 12.5 x 25.7 cm (4 15/16 x 10 1/8 in.)
Edward L. Whittemore Fund 1932.119.31.a
Location: not on view
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.- ?–1932(Heeramaneck Galleries, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)1932–The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Leach, Linda York. Indian Miniature Paintings and Drawings. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art in cooperation with Indiana University Press, 1986. Mentioned: cat. no. 3xii
- Martial Art of India (Indian Painting rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (February 11-August 21, 2022).
- {{cite web|title=Ritual Bath of Mahavira, Folio 31 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra|url=false|author=|year=c. 1475–1500|access-date=13 May 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1932.119.31.a