Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain, Others
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 290

268
Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
- A.D. 1448, Acc. No. 48.4/88), Venur, Moodbidri and Śravanabelagola. In cases of Bärabhuji. Venur, Moodbidri and Śravanabelagola, Abhinandana is represented in sets of the figures of 24 Jinas, usually shown with Yakṣa-Yakṣi figures (in Barabhuji cave only Yakṣi is shown). Usually, the Yakṣa-Yakşi figures have common features as discussed with Sambhavanatha.
The earliest image of 10th century A.D. is procured from Deogadh (Temple No. 9) showing monkey cognizance and two-armed Yakṣa-Yakṣi with abhayamudra and kalasa. Abhinandana stands in the kayotsargamudra. In both the instances from Khajuraho (Parsvanatha temple and Temple No. 29) the Jina sits in dhyana-mudra with two-armed Yakṣa-Yakși figures. The Santinatha temple of Radhanpur preserves a metal Pañca-tirthi image (A.D. 1448) of Abhinandana (in worship). All the figures as usual have expression of spirituality.
SUMATINATHA (5 Jina)
The cognizance of Sumatinatha is red goose (kraunca) but T. N. Ramachandran on the basis of some south Indian tradition has referred to the wheel or circle. The Yakṣa and Yakṣi associated with him are Tumbaru and Mahākāli (or Naradatta or Puruṣadatta, Digambara texts). The rendering of Sumatinatha was not popular and the earliest example is datable to the 10th century A.D. A defaced Cauvisi image of Sumatinatha is procured from Sahet-Mahet (Gonda, U.P.). Two examples of 12th century A.D. are found from Vimalavasahi (cell No. 27) and Kumbharia (Pārśvanatha temple), but the figures of mulanayaka are lost in both the cases and only the pedestal inscriptions contain the name of Sumatinatha. The Yakṣa-Yakṣi figures, like other Śvetambara Jina images, are of Sarvanubhuti (or Kubera) and Ambikă. The Kumbharia image (without Yakṣa-Yakşi figures) has ornate torana containing the figures of some Mahavidyas (Apraticakra, Vajränkuśi, Vairotyä, Rohini, Mahāmānasi) and Sarasvati.
Two examples are found from Khajuraho (10th 11th century A.D., one on the facade of the garbhagṛha
of Pārsvanatha temple) while one figure (A.D. 1158) comes from Mahoba (U.P.). In all the examples the cognizance and two-armed Yakṣa-Yakși figures are carved.
In the instances from Barabhuji cave, Gingee (south Arcot, Tamil Nadu) and Śravanabelagola, Venur and Moodbidri, Sumatinatha is represented in the set of 24 Jinas. A few Pañca-tirthi images of 15th-17th centuries A.D. are found from Satruñjaya (A.D. 1497 and A.D. 1663). However, in one instance from Śatruñjaya (A.D. 1473, cell No. 613/9/10, inscription No. 273) the image in inscription is called Jivat-svāmīŚrī-Sumatinatha-bimbam. (Jivantasvāmī image of
Sumatinatha).
PADMAPRABHA (6th Jina)
The cognizance of Padmaprabha is lotus while the Yakṣa and Yakşi associated with him are Kusuma and Acyutā (or Śyāmā or Mānasī or Manovega as per Digambara texts). However, the independent figures of Padmaprabha are found from about 10th century A.D. The Yakṣa-Yakṣi figures with Padmaprabha do not show the traditional features. The Yakṣa-Yakṣi in case of north Indian Digambara images are shown without distinguishing features while in case of Śvetämbara images of western India, as usual, Sarvanubhuti and Ambika are shown.
In north India the figures of Padmaprabha are found mainly from Khajuraho (in the mandapa of Pārsvanatha temple), Deogadh, Chhatarpur (A.D. 1149 - now in the State Museum, Lucknow, Acc. No. 0.122), Narwar (Shivapuri, M.P.), Gwalior and Khandagiri (Bārabhuji and Triśūla caves). The huge seated image in the Parsvanatha temple at Khajuraho (10th century A.D.) depicts the Jina as seated with lotus cognizance and four-armed figures of Yakṣa and Yakṣi. The presence of two small figures of Sarasvati playing on vīņā in the parikara is noteworthy.
In cell No. 20 of Parsvanatha temple at Kumbharia is preserved the pedestal of a sculpture of Padmaprabha which shows that the image was installed by merchant