________________
An Unpublished Medieval Image of Bhagavan: Aranatha from Bhagalpur
.JOY.KUMAR SINITA
Bhgn Arta, the cihleenth Jaina Tirthankara, is not widely known to the students of the Jaina art. Ile was born at llastimpura." Ilis father, Sudarsan a h satriya prince of the Lunar Dynasty (Candruvamsi). Ilis mother's name wits Mitrasena. Bhagavatn Aranatha like some other Jaina Tirthankaras became a Cakravarti before becoming a Tirthankars. The sacred tree peculiar to him is Cuta or Mango. His complexion was of polden colour and he was of 20 dhanusu in height. Kumbha in Rickliyat were his chief disciples. His attendants consisted r Yok
Yaisen and the Yaksini named Dharini Devi. Itis symboli... lan bunt wat vandrarula hind of swustik) or isla which come lor the migalus or cight auspicious symbols. He attained riirvani on the Mouit Samneya (Parsvanath Hill, Bihar) it the age of 84,000 years.'
o
Historically the seat of Bhagavan Aranatha can be traced back as early as the Kustaa period. The well known Mathura Image Inscription records the dedication of: Nandivarta (Nandyavarta) at the Vodva' stupa. The stupu was built by the gods (dermirmite') due to the best
• Bhattacharya, B. C., The Juinu Iconography (New Delhi-1984 reprint), pp.
53-54. * Uitura Purunu, p. 245.
Ibid. ..Kulpasutru, P. 183.
Epigruphiu Iudicu, vol. II. p. 204, No. 20.
