Sacred Textile

This large piece with red, yellow and white satin silk background is embroidered with silver-gilt flat wire, inlay work, and couching. The 19thcentury cosmographic piece represents, in all probability, the Jaina conception of heavenly regions and mansions, in which eternal rejoicing awaits gods and liberated humans.

In each of the six compartments two evolved beings in princely attire are shown carrying different emblems, standing inside a celestial abode. On top of each of the abodes are musicians playing instruments. Each of the abodes is surrounded by images of men, women, birds and other animals as well as vehicles such as carts, vimanas, and palanquins. The depictions at the top probably indicate the human world, those in the middle the animal world, and those at the bottom the celestial world.