Bidspirit auction | Jain Altar of Tirthankara Ajitanatha

Jain Altar of Tirthankara Ajitanatha with Silver Inlays - Jain Altar of Tirthankara Ajitanatha with Silver Inlays India, 16th century, 1504. Copper alloys (brass / bronze), silver, West India. Weight: 485 g. H. 13 - 14.5 cm. Condition: Signs of age and wear, with some abrasions and minor losses. An expert appraisal from Sotheby's, stating a value of 5,000 USD, is available. Provenance: From a North German private collection. Depiction: Ajitanatha in meditative posture (Padmasana) on a throne (Simhasana) supported by lions, with silver eyes. The jina is identified by the elephant, the distinguishing mark (cihna) of the fifth tirthankara. He is surrounded by axis-symmetrically paired jina and yak-tail whisk bearers. Inscription on the back, dated Samvat 1561, dating according to the Vikram Samvat calendar, the year 1561 Vikram Samvat corresponds to the year 1504 AD in the Gregorian calendar. The Invincible Ajitanatha is the second Tirthankara in Jainism and was born into a royal family in Ayodhya. His name means ”the Invincible” and stands for strength and steadfastness. He is revered for his teachings on patience, compassion, and non-possessiveness. After renouncing his royal life, Ajitanatha attained spiritual enlightenment through deep meditation and asceticism. His symbol is the elephant, embodying wisdom and dignity.