A mottled red sandstone head of a Jina, India, 11th/12th century CE
AS1803
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In Jainism, a Tirthankara (Sanskrit: tÄ«rthaį¹ kara; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a savior and spiritual teacher of the dharma (righteous path). The word Tirthankara signifies the founder of a tirtha, which is a fordable passage across the sea of interminable births and deaths, the saį¹sÄra. According to Jains, a Tirthankara is a rare individual who has conquered the saį¹sÄra, the cycle of death and rebirth, on their own and made a path for others to follow. After understanding the true nature of the Self or soul, the TÄ«rthaį¹ kara attains Kevala Jnana (omniscience), and the first Tirthankara refounds Jainism. Tirthankara provides a bridge for others to follow the new teacher from saį¹sÄra to moksha (liberation).
Mahavira (6th century BCE) was the last Tirthankara to appear. According to tradition, his predecessor, Parshvanatha, lived about 250 years earlier; the other Tirthankaras mentioned in the Jain scriptures cannot be considered historical figures. According to Jain belief, each cosmic age produces its own group of 24 Tirthankaras, the first of whomāif it is an age of descending purityāare giants, but they decrease in stature and appear after shorter intervals of time as the age proceeds.
Condition: Some losses to both ears, and loss to the underside tip of nose, and a few very minor chips on the hair knots, otherwise intact and in very good condition overall. Custom base. A beautiful example.
Dimensions: Height: 8 inches (20.3 cm), mounted height: 12 1/2 inches (31.75)
Provenance: Private NYC collection. Ex. Sotheby's, NYC, November 30, 1982, lot # 254 and Ex. Sotheby's, NYC, December 13, 2005, lot 53.
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