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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Arhat Pārśva and Dharanendra Nexus
was a proliferation in the production of images of Jaina divinities and building of temples to house these images. Most of these images are now lying scattered around the ruins of their original places of worship.
Among the Tirtharkaras, images of Rşabha and Pārsva outnumber those of the other Jinas. Images of Pārsvanātha have been found in places like Martasol, Pundal, Ayodhyā (Plate 32) and Charampa in the Balasore District, Anandpur, Khiching, Bāripādā, Koisali and Khuntapāla in the Mayūrbhañj District, Vaidakhiā, Gadacandi, Podasingidi (Plate 33), and Sainkul in the Keonjhar District, and Cuttack, Byre, Pratapanagari (Plate 34) and Bhānpur in the Cuttack District; next Kakatpur, Sisupälgarh, Khandagiri (Cave Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 11) and Bāgalpur in the Puri District, and Bhairavasingpur, Jeypore, Cārmūlā, Nandapur and Jāmundā in the Korapūg District. In the Indian Museum, Calcutta, is preserved an image of Pārsvanātha (Plate 38) which was collected from the Circuit House, Purī. These images have been generally executed in stone and, occasionally, in bronze. From the bank of the river Kuakhai near Bhānpur, bronze images of several Jinas were recovered. (Of these images only that of Pārsvanātha escaped the hands of thieves.) Three Pārsvanātha images in metal have been found at Khuntapala and one each at Byre and Käkatpur. Also, one metal image of this Tirthankara from an unknown locality is preserved in the Orissa State Museum at Bhubanesvar.
The images of Pārsvanātha, discovered in Orissa, display certain common characteristics. In most cases, the Tirtharkara is represented as standing in kāyotsarga posture. His seated images are invariably in yogasana. With a few exceptions, a lotus seat on a lion throne is provided for the seated Jina. As his principal cognizance, a snake rises from behind him and spreads its seven hoods over his head. A canopy of three-tiered umbrella (chatratraya) is placed above the snake hood. Below the pedestal appears a nāga couple. Entwining their tails with each other, they are shown as ārādhakas or devotees of the Tirthankara. From the standpoint of the position assigned, they plausibly are Nāgarāja Dharanendra and his consort. Sometimes various offerings are depicted at the base of the pedestal. A constant attendant of Pārsvanātha is a cămara-bearer who stands on his either flank. The devadāru, the caitya-vrkṣa of the Tirthankara, is usually shown on the stele. Garland-bearing vidyadharas (mālādharas) occur on the two corners of the upper end of the stele. Presence of the gandharvas is indicated by two pairs of hands, one pair beating a drum and the other sounding cymbals. Thus, about five out of the eight mahāprātihāryas are shown in association with the Jina figures.
In addition to the above-mentioned characteristics, some images are endowed