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Pittalahara (Temple built by Bhima Shaha)]
135
There is another memorial stone lying in this area, with a representation of a hand of a lady and of the sun and the moon in its upper panel, while in a lower panel, below this group area a male and a female standing and carrying some offering in their hands. An inscription below shows that it was carved by Samghavi Asu in V. S. 1843.1 On another stone lying in a corner is carved a figure of a horse-rider, which might have been a figure of Māṇibhadra, originally worshipped in the cell under the Champaka tree. " Another stone records some gifts with obscene Ass-carving on it, the inscription being very much defaced.
1 Abu, Vol. II. Inscription no. 249.
2 Worship of Trees is very ancient practice in India and other countries, see, Tree and Serpent Worship, by Fergusson, (London 1868). This Champaka-tree with a platform at base is reminiscent of the ancient worship of Chaitya-vrkshas. Manibhadra is originally an ancient Yaksha worshipped by Indian masses from very early times, his introduction in Jaina worship as Māņibhadra-Vira is only a later adoption and revival of the ancient cult of Manibhadra Yaksha, Yakshas are often intimately associated with Chaitya-vṛkshas and the presence of an image of Māņibhadra near this Champaka-tree with a platform is noteworthy. Also see, Dr. A. K. Coomarswamy, The Yakshas (parts 1 & 2); U. P. Shah, Yaksha Worship In Early Jaina Literature, Journal of the Oriental Institute, Baroda, Vol. III. no. 1, pp. 54ff.-Translator.
