Parikara - Jain altar; India, South Rajasthan, Mount Abu; 10th-13th century. Marble with traces of polychrome. It has a pedestal made ex profeso. Measurements: 112 x 71 x 29 cm. Jainí niche intended to house an image of the victorious Jina. The piece made of marble presents symbolic and allegorical decoration. It is based on anthropomorphic and zoomorphic motifs that allude to futility. The piece that in spite of having an intricate ornamental pattern maintains a strict symmetry, still conserves part of the polychromy. The green, yellow and red tones that can be seen indicate the great expressiveness with which this work was originally conceived. Jainism, also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of Dharma), the first in the present time cycle being Rishabhadeva, whom tradition holds to have lived millions of years ago, the twenty-third tirthankara Parshvanatha, whom historians date to the ninth century B.C., and the twenty-fourth tirthankara Parshvanatha, whom historians date to the ninth century B.C., and the twenty-fourth tirthankara Parshvanatha Parshvanatha, whom historians date to the ninth century B.C.. Jainism is one of the oldest religions that is still practiced today. Mount Abu is home to several Jain temples, including the Dilwara temples, a complex of temples carved in white marble. These Jain temples were built by Vimal Shah and designed by Vastupala, Jain ministers of Dholka. They are famous for their use of white marble and intricate marble carvings.