The road to Sammeta-Shikhara

Back to the V&A this lunchtime, the kids having returned to school this week (SO much better!). This is a section of a marble relief, depicting the pilgrim's road to Sammeta-Shikhara. The road really exists, in Bihar, Eastern India.

This pilgrim's road is trod by the Jainists. I'd never heard of them before today. They don't believe in worshipping any god or gods, reasoning that god (or gods) is not involved in things in the human realm so praying to him/her/it/them would be pointless.

Interestingly, the devout Jainists can either go to this road and walk it to the top and visit the shrines they find there or, if they're feeling a bit lazy, can stay at home and study this carving instead.

EDIT: As reminded by the ever vigilant Nicktor, I forgot to include the date. It was made sometime from 1800-1880, in Jaipur, Rajasthan