Jain Goddess Padmavati
The enthroned goddess is seated in a yogic meditation posture on a lotus throne, and framed by an elaborate architectural back-plate with slender round pillars supporting the shrine setting with its amalaka (cupola-like) crowning element. The shrine incorporates two female fly whisk (cauri) bearers, each supported on a foliate armature supporting a lotus bud pedestal and above, the meditating Parsvanatha. Padmavati holds an elephant goad (ankusa) and a vajra in her upper hands affirming her esoteric associations, whilst her lower hands hold a lotus bud and gesture varadamudra respectively. She is linked to the 23rd Jina Parsvanatha, who is represented as a small image presiding over the goddess.
Her vehicle and cognizant sign is the cock, seen on the pedestal below her lotus cushion throne. According to the Niranakalika, the rooster serves as her vehicle (vahana) and she is prescribed as having four arms though displaying somewhat different attributes. Another ritual source, Mallisena’s Bhairavapadma cites a variant set of attributes, but both include the goad. Padmavati would appear to be associated with auspiciousness and wealth, as witnessed by the row of eight (auspicious number) ‘treasure pots’ depicted on the pedestal, thus suggesting iconographic and devotional parallels with the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
Her vehicle and cognizant sign is the cock, seen on the pedestal below her lotus cushion throne. According to the Niranakalika, the rooster serves as her vehicle (vahana) and she is prescribed as having four arms though displaying somewhat different attributes. Another ritual source, Mallisena’s Bhairavapadma cites a variant set of attributes, but both include the goad. Padmavati would appear to be associated with auspiciousness and wealth, as witnessed by the row of eight (auspicious number) ‘treasure pots’ depicted on the pedestal, thus suggesting iconographic and devotional parallels with the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
Artwork Details
- Title: Jain Goddess Padmavati
- Date: ca. 10th century
- Culture: India (Gujarat)
- Medium: Copper alloy
- Dimensions: H. 9 7/16 in. (24 cm)
- Classification: Sculpture
- Credit Line: Purchase, Vijay K. Anand, M.D., Nanda Anand, Maya Anand, and Rohit Anand Gift, 2011
- Object Number: 2011.501
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
India (Gujarat, Patan)
last quarter of 16th century
India, Tamil Nadu
late 11th century
Indian (Tamil Nadu)
ca. 11th century
India (Tamil Nadu)
ca. late 13th century
India (probably Bihar)
late 6th–early 7th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.