Cleveland Museum of Art
Diagrams of the Universe: The Two-and-a-Half Continents, the Universe in the Shape of a Person, and the Seven Levels of Hell
- Date
- 1613
- Medium
- Gum tempera, ink, and gold on cloth
- Culture
- Western India, Gujarat
- Department
- Indian and Southeast Asian Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
According to Jain cosmology, the universe is envisioned in the shape of a man. Above the waist are seven levels of heavens; below the waist are seven levels of hell. His midsection is the earthly realm, here shown as a round diagram with mountains and rivers, expanded at the left. The hell scenes are elaborated at the right. The seven levels of hell depict various punishments as per Jain mythology.
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