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JAIN JOURNAL
Bahubali, in front of a pilaster, sits a royal figure ; he may represent Bharata, his elder brother.
The other Bahubali image, a unique one, in the temple is a tri-tirthika image (26" x 21.3") showing Bahubali standing with two other Jinas, identified, by comparison of cognnizances with Sitalanatha and Abhinandana (fig. 9). Each of these three figures stands in kāyotsarga-mudrā on a simhāsana with hanging carpet and dharmacakra. At the feet of each figure, accompanied by two flywhisk-bearers, sit two devotees with hands folded in supplication. Each haloed figure is provided with threetiered umbrella with a figure (the lower part of whose body is not shown) beating a drum and two flying mālādharas sculptured on the sides. The legs of Bahubali, standing on the extreme left (viewer's standpoint), support meandering vines ; and round the arms are coiled two snakes. Both the images of the Temple No. 2, assignable to the 11th century, are fashioned from buff sandstone. However, the vidyādharis are not represented, and in their places two camaradharas, invariably associated with Jina images, have been carved.
Third, and again a unique, image (42" x 28") is installed in the Temple No. 11 and is datable to the 12th century both on iconographic and stylistic grounds. It represents sky-clad Bahubali standing in the usual kāyotsarga-mudrā on a simhāsana which consists of two lions with a dharmacakra carved in the centre. The most striking feature of the image, which makes it peculiar, is a representation of the yakşa-yaksi figures, occupying two recessed corners of the throne. It is to be noted here that the yakşa-yakşi figures are conceived as the şāsanadevatās of the Jinas, this being the only instance violating the convention. This case should, therefore, be interpreted as the sculptors' inclination to give Bahubali a status as honourable as that of the Jinas.
The two-armed yakşa sitting on the right possesses a bull-face and shows the abbayamudrā with the right hand while the corresponding left bears a water-vessel. The two-armed yakşt, sitting on the left, also displays the abbayamudrā with the right while the left carries a watervessel. 15 At the feet of Bahubali sit two adorers with folded hands.
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This singular instance representing the cow-faced yaksa-conforming to the standard form only in face-with Bahubali probably intends to suggest the relation of the latter with Rsabhanatha, with whom the cow-faced yaksa is traditionally associated. There is, however, no distinguishing feature, other than the above, about the yaksa-yaksi pair. Depiction of lateral strands with Bahubali, once again, attests the relation of Bahubali with Rsabhanatha.
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