Followers of the Jain religion revere twenty-four Tirthankaras, holy people who achieved spiritual perfection in their lifetimes. The word tirthankara means “forder,” and refers to their status as beings who crossed into nirvana from the world that is known through the senses. This brass figurine of a seated Tirthankara (Jina) probably represents Parsavanatha. His distinguishing mark is the snake, a reference to an incident when an enemy tried to disturb his meditation by causing a thunderstorm. The serpent king Dharana extended his seven-headed hood to protect Parsavanatha.