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INTRODUCTION TO JAINISM
sooner or later he has to face his karmas anyway. In fact he accepts everything he has to endure with gratitude, for after this his soul has been purified a little more, and his noble qualities can shine forth more brightly. Through his vow and spiritual orientation he brings his karmas to ripeness at high speed and intensity, but his deep trust in his guru, his own soul, and the final goal help him through all difficulties. He opens himself up completely to what comes to him without any resistance, and that is what is symbolized by his standing posture. A sitting posture symbolizes meditation and repentance.
The two brothers, who are also depicted on Indus seals as copies of the original, can be seen in the rocks of Vindhyagiri at Sravana Belagola in their sitting posture of inner meditation as well as their standing posture of penitence - with their peacock feathers and water container next to them on the floor. In the lower part of the sculpture they are depicted sitting with their hands joined, but still as laymen, in preparation for taking their vow. They are still wearing clothes and their hair is knotted sideways in “Indus fashion.” Above this they are depicted naked and standing (photo 14), which signifies that now they have started their lives as holy ascetics. Creepers are growing over their bodies, and their long hair has been replaced by short locks (which in the meantime have already grown again from their bald heads). Above their heads we see one chatra or umbrella, which signifies power of the mundane world - originally destined to become protectors of the people as sovereigns. The stone has been chiseled out around the figures to make them prominently visible.
In the same second style of art the family of Ādināth or Rishabha, the first Tirthamkara, has been depicted on that rock. His most well-known sons, Bāhubali and Bharata (see chapter 8), have both been portrayed, Bāhubali in standing posture, and Bharata siiting together with his 99 other brothers (photo 15). Close to it we find a sunken relief in the same style depicting Rishabha with a row of monks and nuns.
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