{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O59195"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O59195/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV3426/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV3426/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MV3426","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MV3427","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JY0576","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O59195/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O59195","accessionNumber":"937(IS)","objectType":"Parshvanatha (Figure)","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This stone figure represents Parshvanatha, the most readily identifiable of the Jain ‘Jinas’ (saviour-teachers). According to both the sects of Jainism his complexion was dark blue and the snake was his distinguishing mark. Here the serpent-king Dharana protects him with the coils of his body and shelters him with his multi-headed hood.\r\n\r\nParshvanatha is shown standing in the <i>kayotsarga </i>('abandonment of the body') posture. Long periods of immobility, with the arms hanging freely from the body, represent one form of penance undertaken on the path to liberation. The proportions of the figure follow the traditional depiction. The shoulders are broad and the chest is slightly expanded, representing an inner breath. The waist is slim and athletic, with muscular details on the abdomen. Here Parshvanatha is represented as a naked figure and therefore a member of the Digambara ('sky-clad' Jain sect).\r\n\r\nThis Parshvanatha image was transferred in 1880 from the India Museum of the former East India Company to the V&A.","physicalDescription":"This image of Parshvanatha depicts him standing in the <i>kayotsarga</i> ('abandonment of the body') posture. It involves long periods of immobility with the arms hanging freely from the body, and represents one of the forms of penance that was undertaken by the Jain <i>tirthankaras </i>(ford-makers) on their path to liberation.\n\nThe physical proportions of this figure follow iconographic convention, as the shoulders are broad and the chest is slightly expanded. The expanded chest denotes Parshvanatha's inner breath. His waist is slim and athletic and the musculature of his lower abdomen is defined. This rendering of Parshvanatha is Digambara, as he is depicted naked. Of all the Jinas, Parshvanatha is the most easily identifiable. According to both sects of Jainism, he had a dark blue complexion and is typically represented with the many headed snakes hood of the <i>nagaraja </i>(serpent king) Dharana or Dharanendra, which hovers above his head. This latter iconographic detail is his most distinguishing mark. \n\nIn this sculptural representation of Parshvanatha, the <i>nagaraja</i> serpent king Dharana or Dharanendra is seen protecting him with the coils of his body and sheltering him with his multi-headed hood. The attendant deities are not represented, nor the triple umbrellas or flywhisks, but curiously Dharanendra he is here shown with nine heads (the top one damaged and missing the facial area, with losses too to the adjacent head on the proper left side) although he is more commonly depicted with seven.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"stone","id":"AAT11176"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Stone, black schist","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2021MV3426","2021MV3427","2017JY0576"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES341025"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"sculpture","id":"AAT47090"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"India","id":"x29790"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"south"},{"place":{"text":"Karnataka","id":"x29829"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"12th century","earliest":"1100-01-01","latest":"1200-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"127.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"19/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-19","latest":"2023-06-19"},"part":"maximum height of object (not including modern museum mount)","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"57.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"19/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-19","latest":"2023-06-19"},"part":"maximum width of object (not including modern museum mount and brackets)","note":"the sides of the object are not quite parallel nor vertical so the maximum width is between the edge near the proper right shoulder and the edge near the base at proper left"},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"37","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"19/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-19","latest":"2023-06-19"},"part":"maximum depth of the object (not including modern museum mount)","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"350","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"weight to be checked next time the object is moved"},{"dimension":"Height","value":"131","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"19/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-19","latest":"2023-06-19"},"part":"maximum height as displayed including modern museum mount","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"59.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"approximate","date":{"text":"19/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-19","latest":"2023-06-19"},"part":"maximum width as displayed including modern museum brackets at the sides and mount","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"51.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"19/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-19","latest":"2023-06-19"},"part":"maximum depth of object as displayed including modern museum mount","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This Parshvanatha image was transferred from the India Museum of the former East India Company to the Victoria and Albert Museum. A pencilled annotation to the V&A's Slip Books listing the objects formely at the India Museum records states that it was given to the East India Company by a Mr Reeves of the Bombay Civil Service in 1810.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"This black schist stone figure of Parshvanatha was produced during the 12th century in India.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació \"La Caixa\" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació \"la Caixa\", c2007 Number: 9788476649466","id":"AUTH339669"},"details":"p.179, Cat. 137","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Willis, M. (ed.) <i>India: the Art of the Temple</i>, Shanghai Museum, 2010","id":"AUTH353266"},"details":"pp.224-5, Cat. 3:6","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"figures","id":"AAT189808"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Jainism","id":"AAT143540"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>The Jina Parshvanatha</b>\r\n1100–1200\r\n\r\nIn seeking liberation, Jain ascetics followed a rigorous path. They abandoned all possessions and remained immobile for long periods. Here, the 23rd Jain saviour, Parshvanatha, stands meditating in the kayotsarga (body-abandonment) posture. Like the monks in the Digambara (‘sky-clad’) sect today, he is naked. Parshvanatha is protected by the serpent-king Dharanendra. \r\n\r\nLt. Col. Reeves gave this sculpture to the India Museum in London in 1810. It was transferred to the V&amp;A in 1879.\r\n\r\nSchist\r\nSouthern India (Barkur, Karnataka)\r\nMuseum no. 937(IS)\r\n\r\n","date":{"text":"03/07/2017","earliest":"2017-07-03","latest":"2017-07-03"}}],"partNumbers":["937(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"937","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LU0679"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-22","recordCreationDate":"2001-05-24","availableToBook":false}}