Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 431

Wall Painting
giving), are appropriately shown here as the story leads on to account the 14 Manus or sages who arose from time to time and kept on enlightening the people. The last of these Manus was Nabhi Mahārāja till whose time the kalpavrkṣas catered to the needs of mankind. It was given to Nabhi to become the father of the first Tirthankara. The seven Manus are sitting in a row on a long platform holding flowers in their hands.
The other paintings show king Nabhi sitting with his wife Marudevi-Marudevi on the swing moved by attendants, king and queen conversing with each-other, Marudevi's dream, birth of Tirthankara and the events closely preceding and following his birth, Marudevī with female figures during her pregnancy, Indra with his wife Śaci and retinue, coming to Ayodhya to pay homage to the child and carry him to the peak of mount Maha-Meru, Śacī delivering the child to Indra, white elephant carrying Devendra with the child in his lap and Isänendra holding the umbrella. The other devas are marching in the procession riding on elephant, horse or walking, and the last one is beating the drum. The bath of Tirthankara by the devas on mount Maha-Meru, Devendra returning to Ayodhya after janmābhiṣeka, Rṣabha placed on the back of elephant Airavata followed by devas, the procession returning to the city, Rṣabha seated and worshipped by the devas while Saudhamendra, with folded hands, is dancing with joy, the marriage ceremony of Nabhi, disappearance of kalpavṛkṣa, people requesting Rṣabha to find out for their livelihood, dance of Niläñjana, lokāntika-devas addressing to Rṣabha, Rṣabha carried by devas in a vimana, Ṛṣabha in kayotsarga under a tree in Siddhartha-vana, Nami and Vinami requesting Rṣabhadeva for kingdom, Dharanendra scolding them to disturb Ṛsabha in penance, coronation of Nami by Dharanendra, kings welcoming Rṣabha presenting him elephant, horse, cloths etc. while Rṣabha is returning to forest for penance, narration of dream by Sreyamsakumara, the younger brother of Somaprabha, the king of Hastinapura, Sreyämšakumāra
receiving Rṣabha, giving him food, Rṣabha's departure for forest, Samavasarana where the ganadharas, sages and saints, kalpavāsī devas, āryikās, śrāvikās, bhavanavāsi devas are sitting to listen to the Tirthankara and dance of Indra with damsels.
The scenes from the life of Vardhamana is not in so details. However, the scenes pertaining to the life of Vardhamana show birth of Vardhamana, king Siddhartha and Priyankariņi are sitting, Priyankarini is reclining on a swing moved by female attendants, Siddhartha and Priyankariņi conversing with each-other, Priyankariņi is narrating her dreams to king Siddhartha, king seeking an explanation for the dreams from a preceptor, after birth Saudhamendra and other devas are carrying Vardhamana for janmābhiṣeka (anointing ceremony) on mount Maha-Meru, return of Vardhamana with procession in the city, Vardhamana in a palanquin, Vardhamana's initiation, penance and carya, Vardhamana obtaining kevalajñana, procession to Samavasarana etc.
Scenes from the lives of Kṛṣṇa and Neminatha show Kṛṣṇa-janma, Baladeva carrying Kṛṣṇa, Pütanavadha, lifting of Govardhana, Kaliya-damana, wrestling of Balarama and Kṛṣṇa, death of Kamsa etc. From the life of Neminatha the wedding and some other scenes are depicted.
There are some other paintings in the sangitamandapa which show Ambika Yakṣi with her sons etc.
Among the late examples of wall paintings mention may be made of those in the Jaina matha at Śravanabelagola illustrating the scenes from the lives of certain Tirthankaras and Jaina kings. REFERENCES
409
Klaus Fischer, Caves and Temples of the Jainas, Aliganj, 1956; D.R. Bhandarkar, Jaina Iconography Samavasarana', Indian Antiquary, Vol. XL, May 1911, pp 125-30; T.N. Ramchandran "Tiruparuttikuṇram and Its Temples', Bulletin of Madras Government Museum, New Series, Vol. I, Pt. 3, Madras, 1934.
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