Neminatha

Apparently, majority of Jina images are identical in appearance, but often the presence of the Jina's cognizance within the image allows their identification. This clothed image of the Shvetambaras standing in the body-abandonment posture of kayotsarga, can be identified as Neminatha, the twenty second Jina, by the presence of his conch-shell at the centre of the base. The term 'Nemi' meaning 'wheel-rim', establishes connection with the Hindu god Krishna, as Neminath was a cousin of Krishna.

Although it is carved to be almost freestanding, this magnificently polished image of Neminatha with the auspicious shrivatsa symbol on his chest was conceived to be seen from the front only- the back of the sculpture is quite roughly finished. There is a wealth of fine detail, such as the bifurcated lips, the whorls within the nipples and the decorative border of the Jina's fine cloth wrap. Most spectacular are the gracefully attenuated fingers. Two flywhisk bearers (among the eight chief attendants of a Jina) stand by Neminatha's legs, along with smaller figures of the male and female donors, kneeling in reverence.