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JAIN JOURNAL
torso of Lord Parsvanatha which is broken above the chest and upto the knees measures 110 x 36 cms. The waist and chest measure 80 cms and 94 cms. respectively. This very measurement gives us an idea about its colossalness. The snake Dharana, as usual, coming up from Lord Parsvanatha's back who is standing in his natural kāyotsarga mudrā. He is naked and hence worshipped by the Digambara sect. It is carved out in black basalt.
At present, a temple of Lord Parsvanatha is situated at Bara Bazar which is situated in the heart of the Monghyr town. It is worshipped by the Digambara Jainas. According to the local people, it was constructed some hundred years ago above the original temple site. The author is of opinion that the torso of Lord Parsvanatha under discussion was originally placed near the present temple and was being worshipped prior to its destruction. It might be destructed in the 13th century and thrown into the ditches of nearby Monghyr Fort which was subsequently found and at present adoring the Bhagalpur Museum, Bhagalpur.
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