Bidspirit auction | Jain devotional altar with Parshvanatha

Jain devotional altar with Parshvanatha - The central figure, naked according to the Digambara tradition, is seated in padmasana position on an ornate, raised throne with his hands in dhyanamudra. The iconography is dominated by the presence of a naga, the large multi-headed serpent that forms the protective canopy on the head of the Tirthankara and distinctive iconographic attribute of Parshvanatha, the twenty-third of the Jain Tirthankaras. The figure is flanked by two divine attendants, yaksha and yakshi, accompanying figures common in late medieval depictions of the Jain domain. The entire composition is framed by a finely pierced prabhamaṇḍala (architectural halo) decorated with flying celestial figures paying homage to Parshvanatha. The base has an elegant profiled plinth. The work is made using the lost-wax casting technique and is embellished with copper and silver inlays according to the bronze tradition of Medieval western India. On the back of the altar is an inscription in partially worn medieval Devanagari script. The upper and side band bears the devotional formula: श्री पार्श्वनाथाय नमः ‘Homage to Lord Parshvanatha’ Some more damaged lines follow, most likely mentioning the name of the donor (not legible) and finally reading a date in the Vikrama Samvat era: संवत् १३६ (saṃvat 1316) corresponding to the year 1259 AD of the Gregorian calendar. Provenance: Central Italy collection. H 15.5 X 10 cm