Jain Journal 1976 04

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

Page 33

160
side of his chest. His hair is nicely arranged in schematic curls and he has long ear lobs. An attendant wearing a high karanda mukuța and holding cauri and a flower in his hands, stand on either side of the master in reverential attitude.
JAIN JOURNAL
The second image shows a headless Tirthankara seated in meditation on a cushioned seat resting on a lion throne (No. 59.153/322, fig. 2). It is difficult to identify this Tirthankara also, but if the lion depicted in the centre of the throne is regarded as his symbol, the deity then can be identified as Mahavira-the 24th Tirthankara. The image which is damaged at places is a fine example of Cola period, 12th century A.D.
The third piece is a prabha of a Tirthankara image, which is now unfortunately lost (No. 59.153/51, fig. 3). The Rupamanḍana has described in details the characteristic features of prabha of a Jaina image. The hallow with a dotted border is flanked by a cauri-bearer. The umbrella above the hallow has fine floral designs. It belongs to the late Cola period, 13th-14th century A.D.
The 4th image also shows the Tirthankara seated on cushioned seat resting on a double lotus pedestals (No. 59.153/9, fig. 4). The figure is stylised and lacks the fineness of the Cola workmanship. It can be dated to 14th-15th century A.D..
The next image also shown in similar fashion, has almost a shaven head (No. 59.153/6, fig. 5). The deity has an attendant standing on his either side in service and devotion. It is datable to 15th century A.D.
The image of the Tirthankara broken in two parts sits on a throne supported by the lions (No. 59.153/321, fig. 6). The figures of a standing attendant and the celestial beings shown on either side of his halo are partly damaged. The image with a small head and long torso has unproportionate bodily contours and suggest a 15th century date for the image. Another image of the Tirthankara in the sitting attitude with a circular halo behind the head is flanked by an attendant on either side (No. 59.153/319, fig. 7). The triple umbrella above the head has flowery decoration. The image appears to have been made in 16th century A.D. An image of a Tirthankara is shown seated on a high lion throne. (No. 59.153/404, fig. 8). He is also flanked by an attendant holding a cauri in one of their hands. The floral decoration around the triple umbrella lead us to believe that this life size image of the deity should have been fashioned during the Vijayanagar period, 16th century A.D.
We have given above a succinct account of some of the important sculptures of the Cola and Vijayanagar period preserved in the National Museum, New Delhi. It is hoped that if the Jaina sculptures from south India are studied in relation to other similar material from different parts of the sub-continent, it will give an overall picture of the evolution and development of Jaina art through the centuries.