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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Any Jewelry, post: 4345505, member: 2844&quot;]You&#039;ve got a pretty rare bronze there, AnMarie.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/smile.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":)" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>[USER=8267]@2manybooks[/USER] is right, he is one of the 24 Jinas or Tirthankaras of Jainism.</p><p>Jainism is one of the oldest philosophies of India. Like Buddhism, it is not a religion. The most important aspects of Jainism are non-violence, non-attachment, and non-absolutism. Non-absolutism means that you can&#039;t pretend to know or make a statement about the absolute truth, because it is too complex to be captured in words or ideologies.</p><p>There are two main branches of Jainism, recognizable as the ones who wear white clothing, and the ones who are naked or &#039;sky-clad&#039; as a symbol that they have denounced all worldly possessions.</p><p><br /></p><p>A Jina is a &#039;perfect being&#039;, which means a person who has managed to eliminate all worldly cravings, inner passions and negativity, and can serve as an example and teacher to others.</p><p>In Digambara or &#039;sky-clad&#039; Jainism a Jina is called a Tirthankara, which means &#039;ford-maker&#039;. Tirthankaras prepare a &#039;ford&#039;, a passable place for others to cross from the world of earthly passions and attachment to enlightenment.</p><p><br /></p><p>Your figure represents one such Tirthankara or &#039;ford-maker&#039;. He is standing in meditation.</p><p>It was made in Southern India, and it is antique. I don&#039;t know exactly how old, but you could be surprised by its age.</p><p>I advise you to contact a museum specialised in Indian religious art. Their experts will be able to tell you more about your Tirthankara.</p><p><br /></p><p>It is a genuine and important symbol of a special philosophy, and therefore a special object to own.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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