9th century Jain sculpture on display at Egmore museum - The Times of India

9th century Jain sculpture on display at Egmore museum

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CHENNAI: A rare Jain sculpture, said to date back to the ninth century AD, was put on display at the Government Museum in Egmore on Monday for the first time since it was gifted in 1976. Part of an exhibition during the heritage week, it will be on display till November 27.

The sculpture called " Navadevata Chakra", museum officials said, is the earliest evidence of the type of worship popular among members of the Digambara sect of Jainism.

"Of the 44 stone Jain sculptures in the museum, this one is unique because it contains details like petals of lotus and a cone-shaped crown. It also an improvisation of sculptures of earlier periods with more ornaments," said museum commissioner SS Jawahar who inaugurated the exhibition.

It is aimed at highlighting the deep roots of Jainism in South India.

Usually, museum officials said, 'Navadevata chakras' (nine deities in a circular format) have eight deities on eight lotus petals and the ninth one on a petal in the centre.