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Images and Temples of Pārsva in Central India
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that the image was meant to be of caturviņšati specification. A small figure of ksetrapāla with his vāhana, dog, is also seen on the pedestal.
In two sarvatobhadrikā images from the Gwalior Fort, one housed in the Central Archaeological Museum, Gwalior, and another in a private collection of Mr. H.N. Dwivedi from Murar (Gwalior), are of the period about the tenth century. Pārsvanātha is depicted simply standing on a lotus seat with a serpent-canopy over his head. Mention may also be made of a sarvatobhadrikā from Amrol, in District Gwalior where a mutilated Pārsvanātha image is present on a pedestal. On the Fort wall at Gwalior between the Lakşmaņa Gate and the Hāthiā Gate, there is a relief showing Mother and Child in a rectangular niche. It shows a mutilated lady figure in reclining posture with a child by her side, accompanied by attendants and a meditating Tirthankara seated above the niche. This panel seems the representation of a Jina's mother, assignable to c. 10th century (as was also agreed by Dr. N.P. Joshi in a Seminar on the Art of Khajuraho). Above the head of Mother there is a standing male figure having seven-hooded canopy over his head, though not in kāyotsargaposture. If we identify this image with Yaksa Dharanendra, then this would lead to the conclusion that the panel depicts the birth of Pārsvanātha.
Paramāra Territory The Paramāras of Mālvadeśa were perhaps even more liberal patrons of Jainism than the Candellās. While the extant Nirgrantha temples in this region are not considerable, Jina images are found scattered almost everywhere. However, mention may be made of a Pārsvanātha temple at Dhār, where the Digambara Jaina author Devasena wrote the Darśanasāra in a.d. 933: And Prabhācandra wrote his several commentaries on earlier Digambara Jaina works as also composed two works on darśana, namely the Prameya-kamala-mărtanda and the Nyāyakumudacandra. Besides these, many Pārsvanātha images, either individually or in groups, are reported from this region.
In an image (Plate 28) from Hingalājagarh (District Mandasore), now housed in Bhānpura State Museum (No. 290), Pārsvanātha is shown seated in dhyāna-mudrā on a decorated cushion over the simbāsana with the dharmacakra having the rim facing and flanked by Dharanendra and Padmavati. The carpet above the pedestal is decorated, as oftener, with kirttimukha. The back of the Jina is fully covered with the coils of Nagendra whose hoods are now in broken state. Two seated attendants standing on stalked lotuses are also seen on both the sides of Pārsva. Śrīvatsa mark is present on the chest. His half closed eyes, elongated ears, serene face, broad
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