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Images and Temples of Parsva in Central India
85
posture and looking toward the Jina. The simbăsana is topped by a lotus seat and a carpet with decorated fringes is seen partly hanging down. The tail of the serpent is also presented on the carpet. Celestial beings carrying offerings in their hands and elephants as usual are depicted on both sides of the triple umbrella. The curls of Jina's hair are schematically rendered, usnīşa is low and compressed, ears are elongated, and the face bears a smile. The image may be dated to c. 10th century.
On a sarvatobhadrikā image belonging to the 10th century from Sāhadol, lying besides the Durgā temple (in 1968), Pārsva is shown sitting on a lotus-seat in turn placed upon a simbāsana that has the dharmacakra in the centre. Pārsvanātha is flanked by two cămara bearers.
The images of Pārsvanātha in the collection of the State Museum in Dhubela Palace near Nowgong (District Chatarpur) in the style of the Kalacūri region were collected from various places in the former Rewa State in Baghelkhand. Among them are two seated and three standing representations. One of them is shown in dhyāna-mudrā (with a serpent-canopy over his head), on a simhāsana flanked by Indra and Upendra, and the usual garland-bearers, elephants and the chatratraya on the top. On the pedestal, devotees are shown (Plate 23). Another image represents Pārsvanātha seated in padmāsana, the śrīvatsa symbol, however, is absent in this image.
The three standing images of Pārsvanātha are of red sandstone, while two show miniature representations of the four seated Jinas besides the main image of Pārsvanātha in kāyotsarga-posture.
In a standing image from Garhā, Rewa District, and housed in the Tulsi Sangrahalaya, Ramban, Pārsvanātha is shown with a serpent canopy over his head, a camaradhara and a mālādhara on the Jina's right flank. The portion on the left side of the image is broken. Śrīvatsa-mark is present on the chest. The image may be assigned to c. 11th century A.D.
Candella Territory
In the Bundelkhand or Jejäkabhukti region of the Candelläs, Khajurāho, Mahobā, Deogarh, Banpur, Canderi, Budhi-Canderi, Siron, Khurd, Candpur, Dudhai, and Madanpur were important sites of Jaina art and architecture.
At least 20 images of Pārsvanātha are reported from Khajurāho (District Chatarpur) alone, ranging in date from the tenth to the 12th century A.D. They are either shown sitting in dhyāna-mudrā or standing in kayotsarga-mudrā.
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