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69
NAHAR'S COLLECTION
The specimen is a symbolical representation of one of the dvipas special to Jaina cosmology, called Nandīśvara-dvipa, where the Jinas (Tīrthankaras) are said to be worshipped in the 52 temples by the dēvas and other highly spiritual souls. This dvipa or continent is described as being filled with "temples, theatre-pavilions, arenas, jewelled platforms, beautiful stupas and statues, fair chaitya-trees, Indra-dhyajas, and divine lotus-lakes in succession and that "in the various temples and palaces here the dëvas in all their splendour, together with their retinues celebrate eight-day festivals* on the holy days of the Arhats or the Jinas".
Traces of an inscription, badly weathered, can be made out on one of the side rims of the lower-most storey. What remains reads as hi....na da....dhi. The writings are in early characters, say 4-5th centuries A.D., too early indeed for the specimen which can hardly date earlier than the 9-10th centuries A.D., and convey no sense in their present incomplete and mutilated condition,
4. NAHAR'S COLLECTION.
A copper image of Tīrthankara probably Mahāvīra from Puran Chand Nahar's collection (Calcutta) is of exceptional interest to the Taina artist as it is of the class popular in South Kanara and also bears an inscription in old Kanarese characters of about the 12th century A.D. reading as
"Sri Jinavalabhana Sajjananāgiya jayamādisida pratime”.
* Tl:e Jainas celebrate this Parvan thrice a year, in their temples, during the months of Āsādha, Kārtika and Phålguņa from the 8th to the Purnimā.
