Of all the works we saw in the Asian galleries on our most recent visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the above 11th century marble statue from India of a tirthankara seemed perhaps the most spiritually compelling.
In the practice of the ancient rites of Jainism, the tirthankara is one who has attained perfect enlightenment and who serves as a model and inspiration for others. Tirthankara literally means "victor" and also refers to a "ford across the river of human misery". The tirthankar has overcome the base emotions of anger, pride, deceit and desire.
Jainism, rooted in non-violence, is one of the oldest continuing religions in existence: its origins are in the 5th century BC with about 5,000,000 practitioners today.
Photo: Kokyat.
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