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Arhat Pārsva and Dharanendra Nexus
Pratībāra-Period
An image of Pārsvanatha from Vidiśā (Vidisha State Museum) (Plate 14), standing in kayotsarga-posture, depicts a large serpent coiled behind the Jina's body and making a canopy of hoods over his head. The nägis, interestingly, are depicted on both sides of the Jina with folded hands. The simbasana-front shows a male and a female figure, each seated on a lotus flower and holding lotuses in their hands. and flanking an unidentified object. Nägarāja Dharanendra and Yakşi Padmavati having three-hooded serpent canopy over their heads are present, standing as they do on either side of the Lord. The image may be assigned to c. ninth century.
A mutilated image of Pärśvanätha belonging to c. ninth century from BadohPathāri (Vidisha District) is at present in a bad state of preservation. Its head and legs are broken. Pärśvanätha is shown seated on a lotus seat in dhyana-mudra. Padmavati holding the rod-umbrella in her hands is depicted on the right side of the Jina. The serpent-coils are also seen covering the entire back side of the Lord.
In an image reported from Tu-Main in District Gunä, Madhya Pradesh, now in the Sagar University H.G. Museum (No. 72.1), Pärśvanatha is shown seated in dhyanamudra with a seven-hooded canopy over his head. The dharmacakra is shown in the centre of the lion-throne. Elephants standing on the lotus flowers and grasping stalked lotuses in their trunks are present on both sides of the Jina whose chest is marked by Srivatsa. Half closed eyes, serene face, elongated ears, curly hair, and well built broad chest of the Tirthankara bears the characteristics of the classical age of Gupta period and may be dated to c. ninth century.
In a sarvatobbadrikä image (Plate 15) from Cirainti village (District Sahdol), Pārsvanatha is shown seated cross-legged in the dhyana-mudra on a masûrakacushion placed upon a carpet decorated with lotus petals motif. The simhasana shows a four-armed sitting Padmavati in the centre. On both sides of the throne, also come to view a seated and a standing attendant. The head of the Jina is covered with a seven-hooded canopy. The representation of the triple umbrella flanked by flying garland-bearers and devadumdubbi (two hands grasping a drum) above the umbrella is likewise noteworthy. On the chest of the Jina is the Srivatsa mark. Curly hairs with a short usniṣa, elongated ears touching broad shoulders of the Jina, and bow-shaped eye-brows show progression towards the medieval idiom, suggesting thus the date of the image in c. ninth century.
In three other images (Plates 16-18) from two temples, No. 12 and 15, in the Jaina group at Deogarh (District Lalitpur, U.P.), Pârśvanatha is shown seated in dhyana
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