Jain Journal 1972 07

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

Page 52

JULY, 1972
"The pūjārī now showed us the image of Sri Badri Visala which was placed in the centre of a throne. It was wholly without decoration. The Rawal (for such is the title of the pūjārī) made the light brighter and we could see the image was made of black stone and was less than a cubit in height. On thus seeing the image, I was obliged to change my impression of the previous night. On its right hand side are Kuvera, Uddhava, Ganesa, and Garuda, and on the left hand side Narayana. Close by is the image of Ghantakarna, also called Ksetrapala. The whole throne is made of silver and so are the utensils used for purposes of worship." (p. 72).
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Lalaji concludes: "The image of the Lord is made in such a style that it appears in diverse forms depending on the inclination of the devotee."
We have a learned account about the image from the pen of Sri Umaprasad Mukhopadhyaya who has spent almost a life time in the Himalayas. In his Bengali book Himālayer Pathe Pathe he writes:
"The image is made of black stone-about 2 feet in height. Some say it is sitted in yogāsana posture, some say, it is in siddhāsana posture. Both the legs are visible. I am told they bear the mark of a lotus. Both the hands are on the laps-they are clearly visible. According to some, the image had four arms, of which, they say, there are several traces on the image. The throat is conch-shaped-lines as on a conch are clearly visible on the throat even in the light of the lamp. Yogi Narayana! Matted hairs have descended from the head on both sides of the shoulders. There is a sacred thread on the bossom, of which at the centre there is the mark of Bhrgu's feet. Wide breast, thin waist, a beautiful gracious image But the face exists not-it has disappeared by some stroke-still glossy and flat.
"It is widely said that there is difference of opinion as to what deity it is. The Vaisnavas see in it the four-armed Narayana. According to the Saivas, it is two armed Siva image with matted hairs. According to the Sakti worshippers, this is the image of the goddess Bhadrakali. To the Jainas, it is a Tirthankara. According to some it is an image of the Buddha in meditation; after the original image of Narayana was removed, this one was brought from Tibet and installed here. So goes the story, king Vaikhanasa worshipped Sri Ramacandra in this image of Badri Narayana. The guide says in conclusion this is the image of a God. It appears in a form depending on the inclination of the devotee,