Jain Journal 1980 04

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

Page 39

APRIL, 1980
'Here again the simile of the salabhanjika is used on account of its inseparability from the object on which it is carved.' (Vogel, op. cit., p. 216)
151
These are the salabhnjika-references collected by Vogel from Sanskrit works. Most of them belong to an earlier period of about seventh century A.D. to eleventh century A.D.
(14) Salabhanjika is also mentioned in Rajasekhara's drama Viddhasālabhañjikā (ninth century A.D.), In the first act after verse 37 we read: Vidusakah (stambhe salabhanjikam vilokya): iyam pi sa jjeva. In the second act we find following interesting observation of Vidusaka on the heronine of the play just after verse 19: sivin' ava (anu) dittha **dolana-dolini ca viddha sancarida-salabhanjiattanena tthal' antare parinada gendua-khelini kaa-kavva-bandha-raana sa jjeva esa tue alakkhida tuha cittam akkhivadi.***
Translation: "The girl perceived in a dream is swinging in a swing, in another place she appears transformed into the pose of a branch bending lady pierced and transportable as well, she is playing at ball, she is composing poetry, she is that captures your mind gazed at by you.'
Two paintings which appear like a free illustration of this passage are housed in the National Museum, Rastrapati-Bhavan, New Delhi, registered under (1) No. 56.48-4A and 4B and (2) No. 56.48-3A and 3B (Figs. 7a-7d).
A survey of these references clearly shows that the term salabhanjika is frequently mentioned in connection with stambha (pillar) and bhitti (wall).
But there is not one example among the salabhanjika references, quoted in Vogel's article, which contains a clear description of what a salabhanjika looks like.
Neither the abundant occurrences of salabhanjiya in Prakrit works of the Jaina Svetambara canon nor the passages in the Skt. Silpasastras and Vastusastras have been dealt with in his article.
The Jaina Svetambara text Rayapasenaijja (abbrev. Ray) the 2nd Uvanga in the canon, contains a detailed description of a salabhanjia in Ray., pp. 164-166 (edition of Pt. Becaradas Jivraj Dosi, samv. 1894). The passage reads: