Holy Abu

SR No.: 023259
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jayantvijay
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala
Publication Year: 1954
Total Pages: 380
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 14 MB

Page 129

- Holy Abu
A big stone plaque of 170 Jinas which is the traditional maximum number of Jinas of any age. Three more plaques-one showing 24 Jinas of this age, another with 24 of the past age and the third with those of the future age.
A stone pañcha-tirthika, sa-parikara sculpture of a Jina; four more Jina images, each with a parikara. Fifteen single Jina sculptures, each without any parikara. Six Jina figures broken loose from the Chovisi-Jina-Paṭṭas.
A big sculpture of an acharya (head of Jaina sadhus). In this, the acharya sits on a stool in the centre, his broom-stick (Guj. Ogho, Sk. rajoharana) placed horizontally is shown behind the neck; on his right shoulder is the mouthpiece (Guj. muhapatti, Sk. mukha-paṭṭikā or mukhavastrikā), a rosary is held in one hand. The body shows marks of drapery. On each side is a shravaka standing with folded hands, one is labelled (inscribed below)-Sä° Sūrā; and the other-Sa° Bālā.1 The inscription on its pedestal shows, that these two sadhus (merchants-banias) installed, in V.S. 1396 (1340 A.D.), this image of Shri Munishekhara suri, the pupil of Jñanachandra suri who was the pupil of Amaraprabha süri (also called Ananda sūri) and grand-pupil of Dharmaghosha sūri.
A smaller sculpture of another acharya seated in the same fashion, a small loose image of a shravaka standing with folded hand, another of a shravikā sitting with hands folded in adoration, and two more sculptures each showing a pair of a shravaka and shravikā standing (names not inscribed) are also preserved in this hall.
Besides the above, a small sculpture of the goddess Ambikā; a beautiful big brass image of the same goddess (obtained from an underground cell), two yaksha sculptures, one image of Bhairava or Kshetrapala, and one
1 Ābu, Vol. II, inscription No. 91.