Jain Journal 1983 07

SR No.: 520071
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 47
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 46

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7. A Jaina sculpture at Deoli village
At the northern side of Deoli vilage there was a pañcāyatana group of temples. [Ghosh 1974: 157, pl. 89A]. Almost all the temples are ruined and their broken parts lying helter-skelter at the place nearby. The place may yield a veritable storehouse of Jaina antiquities, including toranas, railing pillars with reliefs of demi-gods and goddesses and a few sculptures. Probably the temple enshrined relics dedicated to Jainism. A beautifully carved image of Jaina Tirthankara is placed in the sanctum cella of a ruined temple. The whole pedestal of the image is installed into the earth of the palatial temple covering the cognizance and other pedestal figures out of vision for which the image defy identification. The image is in kayotsarga pose and on the right side of it stands a man holding a stick by two hands suggesting an umbrella over the head of the god. The stele is triangular and hatthaga playing drum and cymbal are carved on right and left sides respectively. Flying vidyadharas holding garlands are carved on upper part of the stele, one on each side. A flutted āmalakaśīlā is placed on the trunked top of the stele. A lion is carved at the base of the amalaka suggesting the lion throne. The two lateral side-images rest on two planes. The inner higher plane lodges standing small Jina figures, three in group arranged in three succeeding rows. Corresponding to the rows figures of graha devatās are carved on each side on the outer lower plane in arched niches. On right side of the image there are five graha devatās and four on left side. Near the basement gajasārdulas standing on lotus bases are carved on right and left sides. The image may well be attributed to a convention of c. 12th Century A.D. The image is carved delicately with high workmanship in chlorite. Sri Sasti Prasad Banerji of the village informed that the Hindu populace even today worship the image on Jyaistha (May-June) sankranti and other religious auspicious festiv days to fulfil one's vows.
JAIN JOURNAL
[I am grateful to Sri Pratip Kumar Mitra, Registering Officer, Directorate of Archaeology, Government of West Bengal, Western Circle, Burdwan for supplying me the photographs for illustration.]
References
Bhattacharya, B. C., The Jaina Iconography, Motilal Banarsidass, Lahore, 1939.
Ghosh, A. (ed.), Jaina Art and Architecture, vol. I., New Delhi, 1974. Mitra, Debala, Telkupi-A Submerged Temple Site in West Bengal', Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India, No. 76, Delhi, 1969. Shah, Umakant Premanand, Studies in Jaina Art, Jaina Cultural Research Society, Banaras, 1955.