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JANUARY, 1983
105
stalked lotus with Nirriti, noose (or lotus) and long-stalked-lotus with Varuna, dhvaja (in both the hands) with Vayu, goad and mongooseskin-purse with Kubera and trident and snake with Isana.
The figures of the Asta Dikpalas with six-arms, carved in the bhramikā ceiling of the devakulikā 43, will be dealt with at length. This is the solitary instance of the six-armed Dikpalas at Vimala Vasahi. It may be remarked that the Jaina works do not visualise Dikpalas with six-arms. Another interesting point in the present instance is the rendering of the figure of Mahalaksmi in the centre.10 The figures of the Asta Dikpalas here, standing in tribhanga and wearing long necklaces, decorated mukutas and other usual ornaments, are framed between two pilasters. The figures, however, correspond with the iconographic prescriptions of the Svetambara texts in respect of the vāhanas and distinguishing attributes.
Indra, wearing karanda mukuta, is provided with an elephant mount, standing to his right. He holds the varada-mudrā, a lotus (?), a goad, a thunderbolt, a small stick and a water-vessel.11 The Svetambara works, Nirvāņakalikā (of Padalipta Suri) and Acāradinakara (of Vardhamana Suri) conceive Indra as riding on an elephant (Airavata) and bearing only a vajra.12
The pot-bellied figure of Agni, wearing jațā-mukuța, long beard and moustaches, is provided with a meșa as vāhana and the varadamudrā, a lotus, a sruk, a spiral-lotus, a manuscript and a water-vessel
• The Jaina works always conceive Dikpalas with two or four hands. 10
Mahalaksmi enjoyed a favoured position at Vimala Vasahi and also at other Svetambara sites. She has been represented here as seated cross-legged in dhyanamudra on a lotus seat with a row of nine vases, suggesting navanidhi. The fourarmed goddess holds spiral-lotuses in her two upper hands, while the lower hands are placed in the lap. Close to her arms, on either side, there stands a female cauri-bearer. Besides Mahalaksmi, a few other goddesses are also carved in the intervening space between the pilasters. The tiny figures of these four-armed goddesses hold the abhaya-mudra and fruit in the lower hands, while the upper hands show three sets of emblems : lotus, trident and an arrow-bow. The goddesses are identifiable with Laksmi, Siva and Mahavidya Rohini. The attributes here and elsewhere are reckoned clock-wise starting from the lower right hand. tatra sakram pitavarnam airavatavahanam vajrapanim ceti-Nirvanakalika, Lokapala, p. 37. (Editor, Mohanlal Bhagwandas, Muni Sri Mohanlal ji Jaina Granthamala-5, Bombay, 1926). ..sri indraya taptakancanavarnaya pitambaraya airavatavahanaya vajrahastaya..
-Acaradinakara, Pt. II, Pratisthadhikara, p. 178 (Bombay, 1923). Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
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