Jain Journal 1983 04

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

Page 26

128
image, the Surya is engraved in lalitäsana pose holding two full blossomed lotus flowers in both hands. On the other side of the deity, Candra, the Moon-god, has been depicted who is said to be the master of stars and ruler of the north-West Quarters. The Moon-god is seated in samparyankāsana. He is in barada (boon-giving) mudra. The Digambara description of the planet has no mention of his symbols. Just below the Sun-god, figure of Mangala is seen. He is known as the son of the earth and ruler of the South. He is holding a spear in his left hand which is prescribed in the Digambara silpa texts." The fourth Jyotiskadeva, Budha is seen just below Candra who is said to be his father. He is ruler of North region. He is holding a long sword in his left hand. The Digambara silpa texts, however, inform us merely a book for this planet. The next planetary god, Brhaspati, has been depicted below Mangala. He is the ruler of the north-Eastern quarters. His emblems are not clear. According to Digambara texts Brhaspati sits on a lotus and holds a book, kamaṇḍalu and a rosary. The sixth Jyotiskadeva, Sukra is seated below Budha in samparyankāsana. A rosary like object is seen in his left hand while his right hand is in varada mudra. He is the ruler of the south-East regions and teacher of demons. The seventh planetary deity, Sani (Saturn) has been depicted in almost tribhanga pose, holding a standard like object by both hands. None of the Jaina texts refer to the terrific form of last two unauspicious planetery deities Rahu and Ketu who have only been referred to as ruler of south-Western and ruler without any region respectively. In the present sculpture, only Rahu is present. He is in extremely terrific form. His hands are in the tarpana mudrā same as in the Hindu Navagraha sculptures.
JAIN JOURNAL
Now let us evaluate the importance of the sculpture under study. It is singular early specimen in side the province of Bihar showing only eight Jyotiskadevas reported so far.10 Absence of Ketu is of great importance from the chronological point of view. Ketu is a later addition in Indian art.11 Impact of the Hindu art is also clear from the representation of the saturn. The author of this paper think that the image in question belonged to the early Pala period (circa 8th century AD.)
'Nirvanakalika.
Pratisthasaroddhara.
Visnudharmottara, 69. 1-8
10Sinha, C.P., The Early Sculptures of Bihar, Patna, 1980, pp. 133-135.. 11Banerjee, J.N., The Development of Hindu Iconography, Delhi, 1974 third edition, P. 444.