Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 301

Jinas or Tirtharkaras
279
sculptural renderings, the Yaksa is Kubera (or Sarvānubhuti) with elephant as his mount and mongooseskin purse in hand. The conch cognizance with Neminātha was introduced in early 5th century A.D. (Rajgir image) while the Yakşa-Yakşi figures were carved from about 7th-8th century A.D.
The earliest figures of Neminātha (also called Aristanemi in one example from Mathura, now in State Museum, Lucknow J. 8) are found from Kankāli Tilā, Mathura and are datable to 1" - 2nd century A.D. These figures in the absence of cognizance are identifiable mainly on the basis of the pedestal inscriptions giving the name of the Jina and also the flanking figures of Balarāma and Krsna (State Museum, Lucknow, J. 47, J. 60, J. 117). The Jaina works like Uttarādhyayana- sūtra, Antagadadasão, Nāyādhammakahäo and Harivaría Purāņa (35.35, 41.36-37) frequently speak of this association. The prominence of the Bhāgavata cult in Mathura was indeed an inspiring force for this association and also for the conch cognizance of Neminātha. In one instance of c. 1 century A.D. (State Museum, Lucknow, J. 37), the seated figure of Neminātha is joined by the figures of four-armed Balarāma (with seven-hooded snake canopy) and Väsudeva Krsna respectively on right and left flanks. Balarāma holds a pestle (?), plough and cașaka (wine cup) in three of his surviving hands while Krsna, wearing vanamalā, shows the abhaya-mudrā, a mace and a water vessel. However, in another example of late Kuşāņa period (Government Museum, Mathura, Acc. No. 2502) Krsna carries both the mace and disc.
A standing Neminātha image assignable to the 4th century A.D. (State Museum, Lucknow, J. 121) (Pl. 124) is a blend of both the Kuşāņa and Gupta features. With the Jina are carved the standing figures of his cousin-brothers Balarama and Krsna. A peculiar feature of the image is the rendering of diminutive Jina figures on either side of the dharmacakra which started in Mathura in the early 4th century A.D. and subsequently became popular at all the sites and with all the Jinas.
It appears that the tradition of showing the figures
of Balarāma and Krsna on two sides of Neminātha was almost abandoned after Gupta period. Hence, we come across very few such subsequent examples which are known mainly from Deogadh (Temple No. 2, c. 10 century A.D.), Bateshwar (Agra U.P., now in State Museum, Lucknow, J. 793 - c. 10h century A.D.) and Mathura (Government Museum, Mathura, Acc. No. 37.2738 and State Museum, Lucknow, Acc. No. 66.53, c. 11" century A.D., Pl. 150) wherein Neminātha either seated or standing (in one case of standing figure from Mathura Jina is wearing dhoti - Svetāmbara) is joined by Balarāma (with snake canopy and plough, pestle and wine-cup in hands) and Krsna (four-armed, wearing kirīta-mukuta and vanamāla and bearing dise, conch and mace).
The Vaibhara hill at Rajgir has yielded most important image of Neminātha with inscription. It is a seated image of Neminātha with plastic qualities of Gupta period (Pl. 125). The mutilated inscription refers to Mahārājādhirāja Sri Chandra, i.e. Chandragupta II (A.D. 380-414). The stylistic features also support the date. The head, originally damaged, had unfortunately been added subsequently. This is the earliest image of Neminātha with conch cognizance which is carved in pair on two sides of dharmacakra (carved here as personified dharmacakra-puruṣa, standing in abhayamudrā).
Another image (c. 7th century A.D.) from Rajaghāt, now in the Bharat Kala Bhavan, Varanasi (Acc. No. 212), is unique in the sense that it shows all the prätihäryas including the triple parasol, drum-beater and celestial musicians alongwith the figures of Yaksa and Yakși carved prominently (PL. 149). The Yakṣa and Yaksi usually carved in miniature form are here portrayed equal in size to the Jina and occupy the entire lower register of the image. The Yaksa remains unidentified, while the Yakși supporting a child is identifiable with Ambikā, the earliest Yakşi to be represented with Jinas. The Yakșa and Yakși stand on either side of a palm tree. The association of the palm tree with Balarāma (the cousin of Neminātha) is also well-known Artistically
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