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________________ An Unpublished Medieval Image of Bhagavan: Aranatha from Bhagalpur .JOY.KUMAR SINITA Bhgn Arta, the cihleenth Jaina Tirthankara, is not widely known to the students of the Jaina art. Ile was born at llastimpura." Ilis father, Sudarsan a h satriya prince of the Lunar Dynasty (Candruvamsi). Ilis mother's name wits Mitrasena. Bhagavatn Aranatha like some other Jaina Tirthankaras became a Cakravarti before becoming a Tirthankars. The sacred tree peculiar to him is Cuta or Mango. His complexion was of polden colour and he was of 20 dhanusu in height. Kumbha in Rickliyat were his chief disciples. His attendants consisted r Yok Yaisen and the Yaksini named Dharini Devi. Itis symboli... lan bunt wat vandrarula hind of swustik) or isla which come lor the migalus or cight auspicious symbols. He attained riirvani on the Mouit Samneya (Parsvanath Hill, Bihar) it the age of 84,000 years.' o Historically the seat of Bhagavan Aranatha can be traced back as early as the Kustaa period. The well known Mathura Image Inscription records the dedication of: Nandivarta (Nandyavarta) at the Vodva' stupa. The stupu was built by the gods (dermirmite') due to the best * Bhattacharya, B. C., The Juinu Iconography (New Delhi-1984 reprint), pp. 53-54. * Uitura Purunu, p. 245. Ibid. ..Kulpasutru, P. 183. Epigruphiu Iudicu, vol. II. p. 204, No. 20.
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________________ JANUARY, 1986 125 efforts of Sravika Dina at the request of Monk Vrodhanasti who belonged to the Koliya guna und Vaira sukla. The Jaina literature such as Brhaikalpabhasyu and Vyavularablusyu of Sanghadasagani Ksamasramana (81h century A.D.) refer to a devunirmite slupa at Mathura. The great Jaina saint Jinabhadragani (6th century A.D.) visited this place. The date of this inscription was read as year 49 (circa 127 A:D.). This deranirmite sfuper was dedicated w Bh :111 Aranath whose lanchama is a niindvavarta. This most important Jarima inscription of Mathura proves the popularity of this Jina during the Kusana period. **Bhugo van Iranatha oblained the name Ara because Queen Mitrasena, his mother, saw a dream of a wheel (urdi) of jewels' while he was in the womb. It is important to note that not a single sculpture of Bhagnvan Aranathu have come to light from the province of Bihar which is treated as most sacred land in the Jaina pantheon. The illthor of this paper who is working on Jainism in the Eastern: Bihar, however, traced a singular sculpture of Bhagavan Aranatha itt Bhagalpur recently." The town of Bhagalpur (ilncient Campa)" nouds no introduction to the Jaini comnunity. Here Bhagavan Vasupujya allained the pancakalyanakasi2 and it was the place of ancient Jaina temple (Purnablucru caith')'of Bhagalvan Parsvanathal. The im Of Blo.1:11:111 Hranath:1 in (Nuestion live been enslirincil in the Digumbira Jain Teille, Bhagalpur. It is carved of white marble stone and measures 10 x6 inches. It is inscribed which records its donation by one Govinila Riijil, in the samvat 1533 (circa 1476 A.D.). The Jina is seated in padmasana in yogimudra. His curly hair in usnisa style, long cars, half closed eyes, srivassa mark upon chest testify his Jinahood. The lanchana depicted in the middle of the pedestal is a fish. instead of a nundyuvurlu. . . . From the aforesaid discussion, it is clear that the image of Bhagavan Aranatha enshrined in the Bhagalpur Temple is of great archacological importance.. . * Prakrit Proper Names, Vol. II, p. 589. * Vividhatirthakalpa, p. 19. * Epigraphia Indica, Vol. IV, pp. 244 1. * Unara Purana, p. 205. ** Rovshoudhury, P. C., Bihar District Carltcer, Bhagalpur (Palna-1962). " Palit, D. P., The Artiquarian Remains in Dihar (latna-1963). 1. Samarayanga, p. 6. 18 tupaparika Sutra, p. 10ff. 14 Sinha, A. K., Jaina Shrines in Bhagalpur, Jain dutiquary, Vol. 36 (Arrah 1983). pp. 22-23.