Jain Journal 1970 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 49

APRIL, 1970
243
Under the shampooing Mahavira's joints were all loosened and with them the spikes fell apart inside his head and out they dropped from his earholes with blood. The pain was so great that Mahavira emitted a mighty cry.
In the painting Mahavira is standing between two trees, which represent the forests where the various events took place. The lion and the bird are some of the trials inflicted by Sangamaka. Two male figures stand beside Mahavira, one in the left being the physician Kharaka who is ladling oil out of a receptacle, the other, in an attitude of reverence presumably being Siddhartha.
Fig. 16
Mahavira's Samavasarana. Kalpa Sutra folio, c. 1500 A.D. When a Tirthankara obtains kevala-knowledge, the gods prepare his samavasarana. The earth is cleansed for a space yojana around, scented and ornamented. Three walls are erected, the innermost of jewels, the middle of gold, and the outermost of silver. There are four jewelled gates to each wall. In the centre is a pedestal with a tree and under the tree are four lion thrones. The throne on the east is occupied by the Jina, the three others by reproductions of him. There he preaches to gods, men, birds and beasts. In the painting Mahavira sits within the Samavasarana with two yakşas as attendants. He is not in monk's garment but is ornemented as a perfected being (siddha).
Fig. 17 Parsva sporting with his wife Prabhavati, Parsva going to see
the fiive-fire penance of Kamatha. Kalpa Sūtra folio, c. 1500 A.D. In the upper register Prince Parsva is seen sporting with his wife Prabhavati on a terrace from where he sees men and women of the city going outside in haste. Being told where they are going, he also leaves with his retinue to see the show. In the lower register Prince Parsva is seen on the back of an elephant.
Fig. 18 Kamatha performing the five-fire penance, Parsva rescuing the
snakes. Kalpa Sūtra folio, c. 1500 A. D. In the upper register sits Kamatha amid the five fires, the four wood fires flame about him, the sun, the fifth, is above