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carried by the celestrial ladies which was followed by the dance by celebrating the kevelgnana of Mahavira. Vardhamana was sitting in the samavasarana, which consisted of venues konwn as Asoka, Champaka, Chuta and Saptachanda for the four kinds of audience viz. Ganadharas, kalpavasi devi, Aryikas and Sravakis respectively (painting Nos. 60-63) THE STORY OF AGNILA (AMBIKA) (DHARMADEVI)
The life incedent of Agnila is found on the beams of the Varandha, facing the samkitamandapa. The story of Agnila is found in the Punyasrava Katha'' . Agnila, the wife of Somasraman had two children. Once, she offered food to an ascetic, Varadatta. Knowing this, Somasraman drove his wife out of his house. She went out to Urjayanta hill, left her two children to her attendent and committed suicide by falling from the top of the hillock. In her next birth, she got born as Ambika, Yakshi of Neminatha (painting Nos. 83 & 84).
TIRUMALAI
Tirumalai is situated 10 k.m. north west of Polur. There is an image of Jaina Tirthankara, Neminatha, 16.5 height on the hillock situated near by the village. The Jaina paintings are found on the ceilling, and walls of the cave, on the sculptures of Bhahubhali, Neminatha etc. and on the brick walls, depicting the monks, floral designs, geometric designs, samavasarana etc. C. Sivaramamurti mentions that these paintings are datable to the Chola period. R. Nagasamy'' suggested that the brick structure itself datable to the early Vijayanagara period. R. Nagasamy' codified that some insignificant traces and paintings painted on the rock-cut images may belong to the chola period.
A full blossom of lotus design (Photo No. 12) is painted on the ceiling of the room No. 4, in the Neminatha Jain temple. The series of hamsas, triangular designs are painted on the south wall of the room No. 4 (Photo No. 13). On the same wall an image of Yakshi is painted (Photo No. 13) whose figure is not clear except her head. She wears karandamakuda on the head kriveyahara, sarabali chavadi, on the neck, kundala on the ears and skandamala on their shoulders. There is another painting found on the same wall of the same temple (Photo No. 114). In this there are two munis painted, sitting in the opposite sides on the bed like tindu. The head of the muni, sitting on the right side is missing. He is showing vyakyana mudra in his left hand and holding flying wisks on his right hand. Another muni, sitting opposite to him, is listening his preach. His right hand is da while his left is holding flying wisks. Both the munis are in the nude with the long lobbed ears and curled hair. There is a book stand in between the
Arhat Vacana, October 2000
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