Figure, of a tirthankara

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This shale figure of a tirthankara, one of the twenty four teachers of the Jain cult, dates to the 11th century and comes from the Deccan (Karnataka) in Central India. It was executed during the Ganga period.

The head of a tirthankara is carved in shale.

Jainism was founded by Mahavira, an ascetic teacher active in Eastern India around the 5th century BC. His honorary title was 'Jina' [the conquerer] and it was from this that the Jain sect derived its name. Today, their are over 2.6 million Jains in India, based mainly in Gujurat and Rajasthan. Their main belief is in non-violence (ahimsa) and a life of asceticism as a means of escaping the cycle of rebirth.

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• Online ID: 000-180-000-577-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1905.436
• Date: 11th century
  17th century
  
• Material: Linen embroidered with red silk threads
  Sample, embroidered
  
• Dimensions: 84.00" L x 9.00" W
  
• What: Sample, embroidered
  
• Subject: European Costume : embroideries
  
• Who:
• Where: Italy
  
• Event:
• Description: Strip of linen embroidered with red silk threads in geometrical floral designs: ITALIAN: 17th century
  
• References:
• Translations:
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