Mahavira Giving Away Wealth

Gallery 331, Asian Art, third floor (Dutt Gallery)

Main Building

Mahavira Giving Away Wealth

c. 1450

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

In this illustration, the future jina Mahavira's interests shift toward the spiritual world, and away from the material one. On the left, Mahavira is depicted in royal regalia, but at this moment, he strips himself of his princely surroundings. He distributes his belongings as alms to an old beggar on the right. This act has great spiritual merit because Mahavira simultaneously deprives himself and assists another in need. In turning his back on wealth and privilege, Mahavira begins his difficult life as an ascetic. His new path will lead eventually to total knowledge and liberation from the karma (former deeds) that keep him tied to this world.

Gallery 331, Asian Art, third floor (Dutt Gallery)

Object Details

Title:

Mahavira Giving Away Wealth
Page from a manuscript of the Kalpasutra (Story of the Jina Mahavira)

Date:

c. 1450

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Dimensions:

Sheet: 4 7/8 × 11 1/2 inches (12.4 × 29.2 cm)

Classification:

Books/Manuscripts/Information Artifacts

Credit Line:

Gift of Howard A. Wolf, 1976

Accession Number:

1976-191-1(40a,b)

Geography:

Made in Gujarat, India, Asia

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Gallery 331, Asian Art, third floor (Dutt Gallery)

Main Building

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