Jain Rup Mandan

SR No.: 001961
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Umakant P Shah
Publisher: Abhinav Publications
Publication Year: 1987
Total Pages: 466
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Art
File Size: 27 MB

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Jaina-Rūpa-Mandana According to Jinaprabha sūri, Supārsva was also worshipped in the city of Daśapura (modern Mandsor).111
A metal Panca-tirthi of Supārsva, in worship in the Cintāmani-Pārsvanātha temple at Rādhanpur, was installed in samvat 1528 according to the inscription on the back of the image. In samvat 1245, Srimāladevi, the wife of Thakkura Jagadeva, the son of Mahāmātya Pșthvipala, installed a sculpture of Supärśvanātha in cell 29, Vimala Vasabi.
8. EIGHTH TIRTHANKARA: CANDRAPRABHA
Candraprabha, the eighth Tirthankara, is white like the moon. Son of king Mahasena and queen Laksmanā (or Lakşmimati) of Candrapura, he descended from the Vaijayanta Vimāna and was born in the Anuradhā nakşatra. 112
Because the Jina's mother had a pregnancy wish (dohada) for drinking the moon, while he was still in embryo, and because he was white in complexion like the moon, his father named him Candraprapha. 113
to the Uttarapurāna, Indra called him Candraprabba because at his birth the earth as weil as the night-lotus were delighted (blossomed). In the south Candraprabha is now also worshipped as Candranātha.
He obtained highest knowledge while meditating under a Näga-tree (Punnāga acc. to Hemacandra).114 Vaidarbha and Varuņā were his chief gañadhara and äryikā respectively according to Digambara belief; according to the Svetāmbaras they were known as Dinna (Skt. Datta) and Vāruņi.
According to the Svetämbaras, yaksa Vijaya and yakşi Bhşkuți originated as the protectors of the tirtha founded by Candraprabha; according to the Digambaras, the Sāsanadevatās of his tirtha were Syāma (Ajita according to Tiloyapannatti) and Jvālāmālini (Manovegā acc. to Tiloyapaņotti) respectively. Candraprabha obtained nirvāṇa on the Mt. Sammeta in Western Bengal.
Both the sects prescribe the moon (crescent moon) as his cognizance.
A temple dedicated to Candraprabha exists at Somanātha-Pätana in Saurashtra. Jinaprabha sūri states that the image of Candraprabha was brought to Devapattana (same as Somanātha-Patan or Prabhāsa-Pāțan) by air from Valabhi along with images of Ambā and Kşetrapāla. 115 In another context the same author says that an image of Candraprabha made of Candrakānta stone is installed at Prabhāsa, along with an image of Jvälinidevi. The image came from Valabhi where it was reported to have been consecrated by Sri Gautama-svāmi and was the gift of Nandivardhana (the elder brother of Mahāvira). According to Jinaprabha sūri, an image of Sri Candraprabha, installed in the Jina's life-time, existed in a shrine at Näsikkapura (Nasik). An image of this Jina was well-known at Varanasi while another was worshipped in Candravati. 116
The earliest sculpture of Candraprabha, so far discovered, was installed by Mahārājādhirāja Rámagupta, according to an inscription on the simhāsana which has a dharmacakra (without the two deer flanking the Wheel as in mediaeval sculptures) in the centre. 117 The cognizance of the Jina is not shown. On each side of the Jina sitting in the padmāsana is a standing câmaradhara. The head of the attendant on the right is mutilated along with the upper half of the halo and the head of the Jina. The malo camaradhara on the right of the Jina wears a conical crown (reminding one of the later kullah caps!) with a motif like the one found in Kuşāņa headdress. The sculpture is rightly assigned to the fourth century A.D., to the age of the Gupta ruler Rāmagupta, the elder brother of Candragupta II. The Sri-vatsa mark on the chest of the Jina is still of the early type met with in the Kuşāna art of Mathura. Candraprabha is here identified because the inscription on the simhasana gives the name of the Jina.
A stone sculpture of Candraprabha sitting in padmāsana on a big visva-padma placed on a simhasana was found in the Jaina temple at Vaibharagiri, Rajgir. In the centre of the simhasana is a dharmacakra which looks like a full-blown lotus. Above it is the crescent moon, the cognizance of the Jina. Besides a male standing camaradhara there are, on each side of the Jina, three miniature figures of Tirtharkaras sitting in padmasana. Thus this is a Sapta-tirthi image of Candraprabha. There are on top two māladharas, two drums and a triple umbrella. The sculpture belongs to the eighth century A.D. 118