Jain cosmological map,19th century. Titled Manusyaloka ('map of the world of man'),this artwork shows the world according to the cosmological traditions of Jainism,an ancient religion of India. Human couples are seen in pavilions at different levels,with rivers and world-girdling oceans (blue rings) separating them. The central continent (Jambudvipa,the island of the rose apple tree) has rivers and six mighty mountains (rows with triangles),with Mount Meru at centre (yellow circle). This artwork,from western Rajasthan,India,is gouache (a type of paint) on cloth,and dates from the 1890s |