Jain Journal 1972 01

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

Page 44

An Unpublished Image of Adinatha in
Bharat Kala Bhavan
MARUTINANDAN PRASAD TIWARI
Bharat Kala Bhavan at Varanasi preserves a few Jaina bronzes and sculptures brought from different places. Sculpture No. 22073 hewn out of sand stone deserves special attention. The image coming from Khajuraho represents the first Tirthankara Adinatha along with miniature figures of other twenty-three Tirthankaras above his head. On stylistic and iconographic grounds the sculpture can safely be dated between 10-12th centuries A.D.
The principal deity is seated in the attitude of meditation (dhyāna mudrā) with his legs crossed. His left leg is partly mutilated. The portion below the wrist of both the arms are damaged but from the pose it is obvious that the hands were laid in the lap being placed one over the other and palms facing upwards. He is sitting on a cushion supported by two lions giving the idea of lion-throne (simhāsana). Tirthankara wears the śrivatsa symbol in the centre of his chest. His hair is treated in short schematic curls and two hair locks seen falling on his each shoulder bear testimony to its identification with Adinatha. His face is very much defaced. On front of his pedestal is. delineated the figure of a bull, cognizance of Adinatha, much worn. To his sides stand the figures of two-armed attendants bearing some round object in one of their arms and the object held in the other is not discernible. The figure standing to right and wearing high headdress is intact while the head of the left hand figure is broken away. Both the figures wearing śrivatsa symbols are decked with similar ornaments, namely, necklaces, armlets, girdles, etc. From the shoulders of the two figures hang a scraf. On each end of the pedestal is delineated the figure of a worshipper with the hands clasped in the attitude of adoration. Above the head of the Tirthankara can be seen a trilinear umbrella on either side of which is sculptured an elephant with a rider. Though the figures of the riders are very much effaced yet each of them betrays a pitcher (vase) in their hands. Over the triple umbrella are depicted in two rows the figures of the twentythree subsequent Tirthankaras. The lower row shows the figures of eleven Tirthankaras, three of them being seated and the rest of eight as standing. In the second row rest of the twelve Tirthankaras were