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Mala Devi Temple at Gyaraspur
103
These invariably show representations of Dharanendra Yaksa and Padmavati Yaksi The niche on the eastern recess of the bhadra on the south side contains an image of standing Dharanendra Yaksa which corresponds with the Padmavati Yaksi on the north face in an identical position This Yaksa is two-armed and carries an indefinite object in the right hand and a water-vessel in the left
The adjoining lateral faces of the recess also show figures in miniature niches The western miniature niche shows an image of a goddess seated in lalıtasana on a crocodile, carrying varada, abhaya, nilotpala and water-vessel, while the niche on the eastern face shows an eight-armed goddess seated in lalıtasana on a lotus, carrying sword, garland, two indistinct objects in the right hands, and bell, shield a and net-like object, in the left hands, the fourth arm is broken A horse is depicted below the lotus-seat The latter goddess may represent Manovega, the Yaksi of the sixth Tırihankara
The niche on the western recess of the same southern bhadra shows two-armed Padmavatı Yaksı standing under a canopy of serpenthoods The miniature niches on the adjacent lateral faces also show each an image of a goddess seated in lalıtasana West face
Niche IX on the west face is empty, while western niches X-XI like the northern niches XII-XIII, were never built, as the north west corner of the temple consisted of the rocky ledge of the hill Thus on the west face there is only one recess of the bhadra with a niche It shows an image of two-armed Padmavati Yaksı standing under a canopy of serpent-hoods, carrying nilotpala in the right hand, with the left hand resting over a staff This figure appears to have been painted, as red ochre paint is found sticking to the serpent-hood
In the adjoining miniature niche, which is really the lateral niche of the western bhadra we have an image of a four-armed goddess seated in lalıtasana on alotus which rests over a crocodile She holds flower in the lower right hand, upper right hand, upper right hand placed on the simanta, the upper left carrying mirror and lower left kept over her lap North face
The first two northern niches, viz niches XII-XIII were never
built
| SR No. | 011055 |
| Book Title | Jain Thought and Culture |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | G C Pandey |
| Publisher | University of Rajasthan |
| Publication Year | |
| Total Pages | 195 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 9 MB |