The World in the Form of a Human (Lokapurusha)

Currently not on view

The World in the Form of a Human (Lokapurusha)

1663-1664

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

This illustration translates the entire Jain cosmological hierarchy into an image of the human body. At the forehead, just below the top of the universe, reside the five classes of perfected beings, and highly evolved gods live in the face and neck area (none of these entities appear in the painting). The chest area represents the heavens, the circle at the waist being the middle world. The lower regions are the hells, with the various tortures clearly depicted in the central shaft. Indeed, it is only this central shaft of the world-body that can be inhabited by souls. The checkerboard patterns indicate areas empty but for wind and water.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

The World in the Form of a Human (Lokapurusha)
Page from a manuscript of the Sangrahanisutra

Date:

1663-1664

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Opaque watercolor and ink on paper

Dimensions:

Sheet: 10 1/4 × 4 3/8 inches (26 × 11.1 cm)

Classification:

Books/Manuscripts/Information Artifacts

Credit Line:

Purchased with the Francis T. S. Darley Fund, 1935

Accession Number:

1935-34-11(35a,b)

Geography:

Made in Gujarat, India, Asia or made in Rajasthan, India, Asia

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Currently not on view