Jain Journal 1972 04

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

Page 86

226
the characteristics of an image of Jina. Prof. R. P. Chanda discussed it in detail as follows: "Not only the seated deities engraved on some of the Indus seals are in yoga posture and bear witness to the prevalence of yoga in the Indus Valley in that remote age, the standing deities on the seals also show kayotsarga posture of yoga. The kayotsarga posture is peculiarly Jaina. It is a posture not of sitting but standing. In the Adipurāṇa, Book xviii, kāyotsarga posture is described in connection with the penances of Rsabah or Brsabha. A standing image of Jina Rsabha in kāyotsarga posture on a slab showing four such images, assignable to the 2nd century A.D. is in the Curzon Museum of Archeology, Mathura. Among the Egyptian sculptures of the time of the early dynasties there are standing statues with arms, hanging on two sides. But though these early Egyptian statues and the archaic Greek kouroi show nearly the same pose, they lack the feeling of abondon that characterises the standing figures on the Indus seals and images of Jinas in the kayotsarga posture. The name Rsabha means 'bull' and the bull is the emblem of Jina Rsabha."
JAIN JOURNAL
Therefore it is possible that the figures of the yogi with bull on the Indus seals represent the Mahayogi Rsabha. The images of Rsabha with trisula-like decoration on the head in a developed artistic shape are also found at a later period. Thus the figures on the Mohenjodaro seals vouchsafe the prevalence of the religion and worship of Jina Rsabha at the early period on the western coast of the country.
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