Jain Journal 1977 01

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

Page 10

On the Emblem of Abhinandana
P. C. DASGUPTA
It is well-known from early texts that the 24 Tirthankaras are associated with their respective cognizances or symbols carrying imports seemingly concerning cultural and religious traditions of remote antiquity. Thus, the bull of Rsabha, the elephant of Ajitanatha, the horse of Sambhavanatha and the deer of Santinatha have their respective position in the Jaina iconography. Obviously, the idealisation of animals, plants and symbols in the field of mythology and folk-lore may be traced within a vast repertoire of archaeological materials dating from prehistoric times. Such traits are present in the Indus-valley and in the Chalcolithic of Post-Harappa. The seals and painted pottery of Harappa civilization are actually eloquent in this respect. Evidently, the Nature with its diversity of life and environments have inspired the art of mankind since the dawn of civilization and this is manifest in the vestiges of early cities and farming settlements of the ancient world mainly stretching from the Aegean isles down to the deserts of Africa and the endless terrains and river-valleys of the Orient. The feature has virtually acquired its significance in various regions of the world whether it be Mexico or Peru or Western Asia. The mammoth, the bull and the reindeer have found place in the art of Europe as early as in the Upper Palaeolithic which obviously belongs to the Pleistocene measurable as it were by the Glacial phenomena. Crete, Asia-Minor, Egypt, Mesopotamia and other regions have their own significant share in the veneration for the variegated aspects of Nature with her multitudinous forms of plants and animals. In this perspective the figures of divine animals and other motifs in ancient Indian art have a mystic and subtle meaning which are sometimes as traditional as those of a convergent civilization of mankind or of parallel ideals gaining conviction through comparable ingenuity
rising sun
among nations. While the lion, the bull, the Monkey worshipping the elephant, the horse, the tortoise or the snake are equally significant in Hindu icono- from 17th century manusgraphy, a somewhat comparable array cript illustration