Ambika on Jaina Art and Literature

Author(s): Maruti Nandan Prasad Tiwari
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 98

ing five are portrayed in a horizontal row at the top parikara. The Yaksis in the top parikara are labelled as Vahurūpini, Cāmundā, Sarasati, Padumăvati and Vijayā, while those on the two flanks (from top to bottom) are Jayā, Anantamati, Vairotā, Gauri, Mahākāli, Kali, Pusadadhi and Prajāpati (on right), and Aparājită, Mahāmānusi, Anantamati, Gandhāri, Manusi, Jālāmālini, Manujā and Vajrasamkală (on left).
All the 23 Yaksis in the parikara, possessing four arms, are carved arbitrarily, instead of being in traditional order. They are all standing in tribhanga with their respective vāhanas. Except for Manujā and Sarasati, their names correspond with the list supplied by the Digambara works, namely, the Tiloya-pannatti of Yati-vrşabha, (c. 8th century A.D.), the Pratiştha-sāra-sangraha and the Pratişthāsāroddhāra. However, the name of Anantamati has been carved twice because of the engraver's mistake. The inscription, however, does not mention the names of Cakreśvari, Rohini, Manovegā, Mānavi, Ambikā and Siddhāyini Yakşīs. But the figures of Cakreśvari, Manovega (labelled as Manujā), Ambikā and Siddhāyinī (labelled as Sarasati) could distinctly be identified on account of their iconographic features.
The beautiful figure of four-arrned Ambikā, bejewelled in graiveyaka, necklaces, girdle (with suspended loops), anklets, bracelets, armlets, and karanda-mukuta, stands as she is in tribhanga. The jewelleries of Ambikā are minutely done with fine workmanship, appearing more like a metallic work. The plasticity in body and posture, linear movement and proportional body limbs are magnificent which all make this image a wonderful piece of India art. The goddess is provided with stellate cut halo. The small face of the goddess shows benign appearance while the contours and other bodily features give somewhat sensuous flavour. Although all the hands are damaged, remnant of the foliage of a mango tree overhead and the rendering of two sons (nude), Priyankara and Subhankara, alongwith lion mount, make the identification of the goddess with Ambikā doubtless. Of the two sons, Subhankara on right rides on lion, the vāhana of Ambikā, while the other son (Priyankara) stands to her left. The tiny figure of Jina Neminātha with conch lāñchana is carved over the head of Ambikā. Besides, the figures of 12 other Jinas, both seated in dhyāna-mudrā and standing in kāyotsarga-mudrā are also shown in the parikara. The nudity of the Jina figures and also the iconographic details of the Yaksīs carved in the parikara distinctly reveal that the image belongs to the Digambara sect. The figures of the gaja-vyāla
84 Ambikā