Jain Journal 2006 10 No 04

SR No.: 520264
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2006
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

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JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XLI, NO. 2 OCTOBER. 2006
with a distinctive symbol, when as a matter of necessity they were introduced in distinguishing seated or standing Jina images apparently confusing in appearance. In the Gupta period a lañchana is invariably associated with the Jina icons, which eliminated any chance of misapprehension. In spite of all this however, the antiquity of symbolism in Jaina art has been proved beyond the slighest shadow of doubt. In fact, in the Mathura finds of the remains we get an abundance of these lanchanas like a bull, deer, elephant, dolphin, syena, conch, lion, lotus, buffalo, horse, boar, rhinoceros etc. These are represented as carvings on rail-bars and coping stones discovered in the ruins of Kankali tila. Although the Kalpasūtra mentions the lanchanas of the 24 Tīrthankara, we have no representation in art correspondingly showing the association.
What actually holds good in the matter of lāñchanas is probably also true with regard to the Yakṣa figures. For in the early Kuṣāṇa period images of the Jina have conspicuously no attending Yakşa figures beside them. It is also significant that the Jina figures have attending Ganadharas at some stage of the development of the Jaina figures and their associates, as opposed to the concept of the Yaksas and Yakṣinis. This tradition seems to have been preserved in some late works of art wherein Jina figures are attended with figures of Cakravartins. Such an illustration is available in a manuscript painting preserved at the Royal Asiaticf Society of Bengal, Calcutta, bearing number 1544. The painting represents a late tradition with considerable influence of the Rajput School. In the group, Adinath is accompanied by Bharatacakri, Ajita by Sagaracakri, Sambhava by Satyavirya, Abhinandana by Mitrabhava, Sumati by Yamadyuti, Padmaprabha by Meghavanta (?), Supärsvanatha by Dharmavirya, Chandraprabha by Danavirya, Puspadanta by Meghavanta, Sitalanatha by Simandhara, Śreyamsanatha by Tripistavāsudeva, Vāsupūjya by Dvipistavasudeva, Vimalanatha by Svayambhuvasudeva, Anantanatha by Purusottamavasudeva, Dharmanatha by Pundarikavāsudeva, Santinātha by Puruşadatta, Kunthunatha by Kunāla, Aranatha by Govinda, Mallinatha by Subhūma, Munisuvrata by Ajita, Naminatha by Vijayaraja, Neminatha by Ugrasena,