Arhat Parshva and Dharnendra Nexus

SR No.: 002108
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M A Dhaky
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 204
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Book_English, Articles, History, Art, E000, & E001
File Size: 8 MB

Page 104

86
Arbat Pārsva and Dharanendra Nexus
A remarkable Pārsvanātha image reported from a field near the Ghantãi temple at Khajurāho is now in the Jaina collection. The tail of the serpent, the lāñchana of the Jina, dangles over the carpet of throne. Its coils form the seat of Pārsvanātha and hoods form the canopy over his head. Dharanendra in human form and Padmavati, both crowned over by snake-hood canopies, are shown seated in padmāsana on Pārsvanātha's main seat, on either side of which is an Indra with lotus in one hand and flywhisk in the other. The parikara is decorated with elephants, vyālas and makaras, etc. On either side of the canopy, above the yaksas, are elephants; whereas the parasol is flanked by gandharvas and vidyādbaras with musical instruments and garlands. The limbs of the Tirthankara are in good proportion. The head shows usnīşa.'
An important Pārsvanātha image in the Khajuraho Museum (No. 1654), in the standing-posture, is with the usual attendant Yaksa and Yaksi. The depiction of the nine grahas in this image is remarkable.10
In another Pārsvanātha image from Khajuraho (Plate 24), housed in the selfsame Museum (No. 1618), he is shown seated in dhyāna-mudrā flanked by the cámaraholding Indra and Upendra. The siṁhāsana has the dharmacakra in the centre but with rim shown frontwise. On the corners of the pedestal are the seated pair of Yaksa and Yaksi with the snake-canopy over their heads. A carpet decorated with fringes is seen suspended from the seat and above the seat is a decorated cushion. On both sides of the Pārsva's head, two seated mini-Jina figures are depicted. The cobra-canopy is flanked by elephants, also two standing tiny figures of Jinas and the vidyādhara couples holding garlands. Vyālas and makaras are also shown in the parikara. Śrīvatsa mark is present on the chest. Curly hair are shown with usnīşa. The image may be assigned to c. tenth century.
Deogarh, District Lalitpur, U.P., has a group of Jaina temples and sculptures on the eastern sector of the fort dating from the ninth to the 12h century. About 30 standing or seated images of Pārsvanātha are reported from this site, kept either in the temples or in the open area in the fort. In the early images, of the ninth century, Pārsvanātha is flanked by Dharanendra with cămara and Padmāvati holding a large umbrella in her hands, as already mentioned above.
In other Pārsvanātha images represented on the temples Nos. 1, 4, 6, 9 and 12 and belonging to the 10th and 11th century A.D., he is simply shown seated in dhyāna-mudrā or standing in khadgāsana, the back fully covered by the coils of the snake. He is generally flanked by cămara-bearers shown front-wise. Sometimes seated or standing smaller figures of Tirthankaras are also depicted on both sides.