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Unique Jaina Site Deogarh and its ... : 87
Dharanendra is present both in the form of snake with seven-hoods spread over the head of Jina and also as a yakṣa in human form with folded hands. Surprisingly in few instances at Deogarh, Khajurāho and some other Digambara Jaina sites, in addition to above figures we also come across the figures of two-or-four-armed Dharaṇendra and Padmāvatī at throne ends holding different attributes like snake, goad and noose.
fig. 06- Seated Jina with flanking figures of Pārsvanātha and Supārsvanātha (in kāyotsarga-mudrā respectively with seven and five hooded snake-canopy), śikhara, Temple no. 13, Deogarh, 11th century CE Deogarh has yielded more than 50 images of Pārsvanātha, datable between ninth and 13th century CE. The number comes only next to the images of Rsabhanātha. Several colossal images of 9h-10h century depict Pārsvanātha as usual with seven-hooded snake-canopy and as standing in kāyotsarga but on simple pedestal without Prātihārya like- Simhāsana and even Trichatra. May be that these images represent Pārsvanātha a little before attaining Jina-hood. In most of examples sky-clad Pārsvanātha is shown in kāyotsarga-mudrā. On the modern boundary wall of the Temple no. 12 (Sāntinātha temple), maximum number of such images could be seen.' In these examples on both the sides of Pārsvanātha, the flywhisk bearing attendants are shown who are provided with snake-canopy to establish their association with Pārsvanātha. In few examples the male attendant holds a flywhisk, while the female attendant on the other side is shown with chatra with its top over the head of Pārsvanātha.
