A large brown figure sits on a throne in a three-domed temple structure, two flags flying from two of the domes. Sitting in the lotus posture of meditation, he wears an intricate headdress and jewellery. There are lamps on his left and right sides while above him are small bells. Above his head is a kind of double-ended lotus stalk, which is an ornament and probable symbol of purity.
He is flanked by a male figure on each side. They have hands folded in a gesture of homage and respect.
Below are trees of various kinds, suggesting an outdoor scene. This is the place found in other pictures in the album, where temple servants and devotees are shown preparing ingredients for ceremonies of worship.
Thus this lively painting features two scenes in one, namely the:
Inside the main cella of the temple a Jina is enthroned, and being worshipped. This Jina cannot be identified for sure, in the absence of any identifying emblem. His identification as Ṛṣabhanātha or Lord Ṛṣabha, the first Jina, cannot be more than a guess. The throne is where the emblem is usually found but here it is filled with only decorative motifs.
The figures on the Jina's left and right sides are lay devotees worshipping him.
The painter does not use perspective, but does represent the journey through the landscape to the temple and then inside. The temple garden is presented first, followed by the interior of the temple.
This is a full-page painting. The elaborate floral border of the picture underscores the decorative nature of the image.
This manuscript has the format of a European book and is a composite document with different items.
The 24 Jinas are always represented in a very stylised way in visual art. In some cases, however, the colour of their body is an identifying mark – green for Pārśva, blue for Nemi, for instance.
Apart from this the Jinas have no obvious identifying marks with the exception of the 23rd Jina, Pārśvanātha or Lord Pārśva. Pārśva is usually shown with a snake headdress, which highlights his close association with snakes – nāga. No other Jinas have a life story featuring an animal in this way.
Moreover, each Jina has an emblem that is frequently included in artwork so he can be identified.
In this album, which has five pictures, two Jinas can be definitely named:
The identity of the other three is uncertain. They may be the other most popular Jinas:
A Jina is always shown in meditation, either standing or sitting, like here. Among the Śvetāmbaras, the Jina is thought of as a spiritual king and is often depicted with ornaments and seated on a throne. This is the case here.
This hymn on YouTube is dedicated to Ṛṣabhanātha or Lord Ṛṣabha, the first of the 24 Jinas of this era of time. The slideshow has pictures of devotees praying to Ṛṣabha and passing on his teachings.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art provides an illustrated manuscript page showing the worship of R̥ṣabhanātha or Lord R̥ṣabha, the first Jina, at Mount Shatrunjaya. Shatrunjaya is a major pilgrimage site in Gujarat, especially for Śvetāmbara Jains.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art provides a manuscript illustration of the lustration or ritual bath of R̥ṣabhanātha or Lord R̥ṣabha, the first Jina. A very popular Jain hymn of praise, the Bhaktāmara-stotra has been translated into many languages and illustrated numerous times.
http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=72260;type=101
This short YouTube video from 2011 captures part of a procession in the temple-city of Mount Shatrunjaya, in Gujarat. Chanting ‘Adinath’, the devotees are probably on their way to the main Adishvar temple, which is dedicated to Ṛṣabha. The first Jina, he is also known as Ādinātha or First Lord.
This is the first of four brief videos of the procession. You can watch the next part.
This short YouTube video from 2011 captures a procession in the temple-city of Mount Shatrunjaya, in Gujarat. Chanting ‘Adinath’, the devotees are probably on their way to the main Adishvar temple, which is dedicated to Ṛṣabha. The first Jina, he is also known as Ādinātha or First Lord.
This is the second of four brief videos of the procession. You can watch the next part.
This short YouTube video from 2011 captures part of a procession in the temple-city of Mount Shatrunjaya, in Gujarat. Chanting ‘Adinath’, the devotees are probably on their way to the main Adishvar temple, which is dedicated to Ṛṣabha. The first Jina, he is also known as Ādinātha or First Lord.
This is the third of four brief videos of the procession. You can watch the final part.
This short YouTube video from 2011 captures part of a procession in the temple-city of Mount Shatrunjaya, in Gujarat. Chanting ‘Adinath’, the devotees are probably on their way to the main Adishvar temple, which is dedicated to Ṛṣabha. The first Jina, he is also known as Ādinātha or First Lord.
This is the last of four brief videos of the procession. You can watch the first part.
British Library. Or. 13478. Mānatunga. 1762
British Library. Or. 13623. Yaśo-vijaya. 1733
British Library. Or. 13741. Mānatunga. Perhaps 18th to 19th centuries
British Library. Or. 13700. Unknown author. 1445
British Library. Or. 5149. Unknown author. 1464
British Library. Or. 5149. Unknown author. 1464
British Library. Or. 13623. Yaśo-vijaya. 1733