Book Title: Holy Abu
Author(s): Jayantvijay
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala

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Page 163
________________ 80 [Holy Abu of the big horse he is riding on: Originally carved of white marble, the whole sculpture is now spoiled with plaster except on the head; probably it was mutilated and had to be repaired. An attendant stands on the back and once held an umbrella (chhatra) over the Minister. In this hall are installed in all ten marble sculptures of elephants, arranged in three rows, beautifully carved, wellmodelled and adorned with howdahs, trappings etc. two of them show both a mahāvat (driver) and a minister on their backs. On one there is left only a sheth (one of the ancestors of Vimala), three elephants have figures of riders alone, while no figures are left on four elephants. Behind the rows of elephants is a representation of the Samavasaraṇa, circular in shape, with the three fortifications shown one above the other and surmounted on top by a Chaumukha (with one Jina facing each direction) placed under a miniature shrine. An inscription on this sculpture1 shows that it was the gift of one Dhandhūka, Oshwal by caste, and a follower of Shri Nanna-acharya of Koranta-gaccha. In this hall, a sculpture of Lakshmi, seated in the padmasana, is also worshipped in one corner. i The shravaka ancestors of Pṛthvīpāla, still preserved on some of the elephants, carry accessories for worship2 and wear a crown or a turban while the mahāvats are shown bare-headed. On each elephant, behind the seat; must have stood a figure of an umbrella-bearer or of a chowrie 1 Abu, Vol. II, inscription no. 229. 2 The shravakas riding on the elephants are four-armed; the extra hands seem to have been added for the offerings carried. The figures represent human beings and must be the members of the family of Nina, the ancestor of Vimala and Pṛthvipāla, as is suggested by the inscriptions on them. For inscriptions, see, Abu, Vol. II, inscription no. 233.

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