Untitled

Unknown

15th century · Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper · Asian Art

The Brahmin “heretic” Kamatha performs penances to test his faith before his conversion to Jainism. Four fires burn in altars and a fifth is represented as the blazing sun, seen to the left of the Brahmin’s head. In the lower register, Parsvanatha, the twenty-third jina, overseen by a lesser god (deva) on an elephant, rescues a snake from a woodcutter who disturbs it in a log. This snake proves to be the Naga king Dharana, who later protects the jina from floods and other calamities.

Artist

Unknown

Date

15th century

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Culture

India (Gujarat)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1955