VMFA Circle Lecture Series
Thu, Mar 12, 6 pm
Worshiping the Jina: Rituals of Jain Devotion
with Dr. John E. Cort, Professor of Asian & Comparative Religions, and Judy Gentili Chair in International Studies, Denison University
The Jains are well known for their innumerable depictions of the Jinas, the enlightened and liberated teachers of Jain history. These representations—whether three-dimensional icons or colorful paintings—may consist of a single Jina or sets of three, five, or even all twenty-four Jinas of the current cycle of time. In his talk, Cort explains the basic rituals of Jain devotion performed in temples and home shrines. He clarifies who the Jina is and how the Jains understand this holiest of all beings as simultaneously singular and multiple. This presentation complements Jainism’s Spiritual Victors, a painted series of Jinas recently installed in the South Asian galleries, and encourages viewers to appreciate how these objects are both works of art and foci of ritual devotion.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
IMAGE Padmaprabha: Sixth Tirthankara of the Present Age, 18th century, Indian, Jaipur, Rajasthan, opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper. Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Endowment, 2017.23.6 © Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
