Shakra (Indra) Reveres the Embryo of Mahavira: Folio from a Kalpasutra Manuscript

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The all-knowing supreme god Shakra (Indra) knows of Mahavira’s descent to earth from heaven as an embryo inserted into the Brahmani Devananda. He steps down from his bejeweled, triple-spired throne and, kneeling on a cushion, worships the jina. His honorific umbrella accompanies him. The flattened composition is set against a vibrant blue color field.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Metropolitan Museum of Art