Animal Symbols of the Kings of the Twelve Heavens of the Vaimanika Gods
Page from a manuscript of the Sangrahanisutra
Artist/maker unknown, Indian
Geography:
Made in Gujarat, India, Asia
or Rajasthan, India, Asia
Date:
1663-1664Medium:
Opaque watercolor and ink on paperDimensions:
Sheet: 4 3/8 × 10 1/4 inches (11.1 × 26 cm)Curatorial Department:
South Asian ArtObject Location:
1935-34-11(26a,b)Credit Line:
Purchased with the Francis T. S. Darley Fund, 1935
Made in Gujarat, India, Asia
or Rajasthan, India, Asia
Date:
1663-1664Medium:
Opaque watercolor and ink on paperDimensions:
Sheet: 4 3/8 × 10 1/4 inches (11.1 × 26 cm)Curatorial Department:
South Asian ArtObject Location:
Currently not on view
Accession Number:1935-34-11(26a,b)Credit Line:
Purchased with the Francis T. S. Darley Fund, 1935
Social Tags [?]
12 heavens [x] animals [x] antelope [x] boar [x] bull [x] cosmology [x] elephant [x] gazelle [x] goat [x] gods [x] horse [x] india [x] indian art [x] kings [x] paper [x] pig [x] ram [x] snake [x] watercolor [x]The complex Jain cosmology expounded in the Sangrahanisutra speaks of four classes of gods, the highest of which are called Vaimanika (flying) because they travel in airborne chariots. Each of the twelve Vaimanika gods has a complete heaven, ruled over by a king. Each king is represented by a different animal, as depicted and named in this painting. They are (left to right, top to bottom): antelope, water buffalo, boar, elephant-lion, ram, swimming spotted animal, horse, elephant, snake, rhinoceros, bull, and gazelle.