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

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Arbat Pārśva and Dharanendra Nexus
Conclusion
From the foregoing discussion we may conclude that, from the ancient through premedieval to the medieval period, scores and scores of images of Jina Pārsva were carved and, inferably, many temples for that Jina had been built in Central India. While extant buildings in this vast province are rare to meet with, the images are found scattered all over the region. In Central India, these begin to appear from the fifth century.
The images of Pārsvanātha belonging to the Gupta, post-Gupta and Pratīhāra periods show that the generalities of the classical art of the Mathurā tradition were followed in Central India also. In these images the Jina is shown seated in dhyānamudrā or standing in the kāyotsarga-mudrā with seven-hooded canopy of Nāgarāja over his head. On the simbāsana is generally shown the dharmacakra between the two end-lions. Sometimes he is also depicted seated on the coils of the snake or on a decorated cushion kept upon an ornamented piece of cloth dangling downwards from the seat. He is customarily flanked by Dharanendra bearing the câmara and Padmăvati holding the umbrella in her hands. Above the snake-canopy, chatratraya, devaduṁdubhi flanked by elephants standing on lotus flowers, and garland-bearing vidyādbaras also began to appear. The śrīvatsa mark on the chest of the Pārsva is generally absent in the beginning, which was a common feature of the Mathurā Jina images in the Kuşāna and Gupta periods. The lāñchana of Pārsva is also not depicted up to the Pratīhāra period.
Pārsvanātha images of the tenth and 11th centuries represent a fully developed phase of the sculpture in almost whole of Central India. He is depicted in seated and standing postures of all sizes with simple and elaborate parikaras usually accompanied with demi-gods and sometimes with smaller figures of Tirthankaras and the surround adorned by vyālas, makaras, etc. He is oftener shown flanked by cămara-bearing Indra and Upendra. Dharanendra and Padmavati are depicted on the corners of the simbāsana. Śrīvatsa mark is usually present on the chest of the Jina but the distinguishing lāñchana and the prabhāmandala are not depicted excepting in a few cases. The later subsidiary images suffer from pronounced angularity, and stiffness is in evidence in the treatment of Jina's body. Also, the eyes are now elongated and eye-brows become bow-shaped. Moreover, the earlobes touch the shoulders, hair mostly curly with low and compressed uşnişa.
In the images from the Kalacūri territory, Pārsvanātha is usually shown seated on the coil or coils of the serpent whose tail is depicted hanging on the carpet through