Twenty Tirthankaras: Folio from a Kalpasutra Manuscript

Twenty Tirthankaras: Folio from a Kalpasutra Manuscript

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Kalpasutra singles out for special mention four tirthankharas: the first, original jina, Rsabhanatha, and the last three, Neminatha, Parshvanatha, and Mahavira. They are given extensive biographies, especially Mahavira. The twenty in between are grouped together, as depicted serially here. Their biographical information is not provided, but the cosmic lapse of time between each of their appearances on earth is. They are shown seated in meditation, bejeweled, and framed by a pair of pendant red lotus buds, perhaps denoting their perfected being and siddha status.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Twenty Tirthankaras: Folio from a Kalpasutra ManuscriptTwenty Tirthankaras: Folio from a Kalpasutra ManuscriptTwenty Tirthankaras: Folio from a Kalpasutra ManuscriptTwenty Tirthankaras: Folio from a Kalpasutra ManuscriptTwenty Tirthankaras: Folio from a Kalpasutra Manuscript

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.