Jain Journal 1974 10

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

Page 14

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JAIN JOURNAL
sculptures, one carved in the cave of Kallil and the others found at Alatur both in Kerala. The image from Biccavol once being worshipped in a Jaina temple built by Sila, the daughter of Karaka, the regent of the Rastrakuta emperor Amoghavarsa, is an important example mainly due to an attempt to delineate well-defined features reaching the verge of a portraiture leaving away the highly conventional style of the torso.29 As it appears, the sculptures of Vardhamana from Biccavol has a more likeness with some of the Ceylonese masterpieces involving the ideal of form than with the general repertoire of sculptures of various regions of India covering prolonged epochs through centuries. As regards the sculptures of Mahavira from Kallil and Alatur the following excerpts from an article of N. G. Unnithan will convey important details : "Kallil is the most important ancient site of Jainism in Kerala. Kallil contains a natural rock-cave in which are set the figures of Mahavira, Parsvanatha and Padmavati Devi. On the facade of the cave on the overhanging rock there is the figure of Mahavira which is incomplete. People believe that heavenly sculptors come down every day to complete it. The image of Mahavira, carved in half relief on the back wall of the cave, is seated on a Simhasana in the Yogic posture. The usual totem lion is carved on the middle of the seat with triple umbrella above the head and Gandharvas on either side with Cauris. On the right is shown Padmavati Devi, the principal deity in the temple to-day. To the left of Mahavira is Parsvanatha."30 N. G. Unnithan has noticed important Jaina relics at Alatur in Kavasseri Amsom in Palghat district of Kerala. These are represented by "a ruined Jain temple, with sculptures and inscriptions scattered."31 Some of the observations made by the scholar in respect of the ruins of Alatur have been given below:
"The site of the ruined temple is popularly known a 'CakkayarTottam' or 'Kundam-a colloquial derivation probably from 'Sakya-Garden'. In olden days there was little distinction between the Jain and Buddhist sects, as the term 'Palli' was applied to all non-Hindu temples. The ruined temple under
29 Jain Journal, Vol. III No. 4 (April 1969), p. 241 and the plate. 30 'Relics of Jainism-Alatur', Journal of Indian History (published by the University of Kerala, Trivandrum), Vol. XLIV, Part 11, Serial No. 131 (August 1966), pp. 538-39.
31 Ibid., p. 537.