Sunday, November 9, 2008

Mahavira

Cave 32, Ellora
The Jain tirthankara Mahavira, founder of the Jain religion, is flanked by divinities of prosperity (Matanga, male, photo left) and generosity (Sidaika, female, photo right). Cave 32 dates to the early 9th century. The similarity to Buddhist iconography is obvious, but Jain tirthankaras can be distinguished by the nudity of their figures.

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