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Contribution of Jainism to Indian Culture :: 131
to these figures no scope at all was given for the free play of imagination of individual sculptors as regular rules regarding the form and pose of statues of Tirthankara had been prescribed by the Jaina religion from the very beginning. Consequently practically all Jaina images pertain to one class and therefore Jaina images from any part of the country cannot be distinguished from their style even though they belong to different ages altogether.
Further, it is significant to note that the Jaina images have been made of all sizes and substances and are almost always invariable in attitude, whether seated or standing. Small images are made of crystal, alabastor, soapstone, bloodstone, and various other precious and semiprecious materials, while the larger ones are carved from whatever kind of stone happens to be locally available.
Undoubtedly the most remarkable of the Jaina statues are the celebrated colossi of southern India, the largest freestanding statues in Asia which are three in number, situated in Karnataka State respectively at Sravanabelagola in Hassan District (constructed in 981 A.D. and 56.5 feet in height), at Kārkala in South Kannada District (constructed in 1432 A.D. and about 41 feet in height) and at Yeņūra or Veņūra in South Kānara District (constructed in 1604 A.D. and 35 feet in height). All these three images of Lord Bahubalī, the son of first Tīrthankara Adinātha, being set on the top of eminence, are visible for miles around, and in spite of their formalism they command respectful attention by their enormous mass and expression of dignified serenity. That is why these three images are considered by authorities like Dr. James Fergusson and Dr. Vincent Smith as the most remarkable works of native art in south India,
(3) Decorative Sculpture
. Regarding the unrivalled progress of the Jainas in decorative sculpture, as distinguished from individual statutary, Dr. Vincent Smith remarks that “The Jainas encouraged the work of a high order of excellence and beauty, employed to adorn with the utmost possible magnificence and pillared
