INDIA, POST GUPTA, CIRCA 8TH CENTURY

At the core of Jain devotional practice is the veneration of twenty-four jinas, enlightened beings who have broken the cycle of rebirth and serve as models for followers also seeking liberation. Conceptualized as an ascetic wanderer, a jina is often represented with minimal embellishments and an introspective expression, lending him a quiet yogic presence. The long hair tucked behind the ears in the present example is a feature commonly found in representations of Jina Rishabhanatha, the first and one of the principally revered jinas. Another ninth-century Jina Rishabhanatha, depicting locks falling along his shoulders is held in the Victoria & Albert Museum (IS.12-1996).