Jain Journal 1983 04

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

Page 27

APRIL, 1983
A Rare Image of Caubisi of Adinatha at Bhagalpur
The town of Bhagalpur,1 well known sacred place for the Jainas, has a number of shrines2 dedicated to Bhagavan Vasupujya. It was the place where occured the pañcakalyāṇas3 of Bhagavan Vasupujya. Due to this fact, Bhagavan Parsvanatha, the twenty third Tirthankara and Bhagavan Mahavira, the last Tirthankara, paid their valuable visits here. A big temple complex was erected during the sixth century B. C. inside the ancient city of Campa (modern Campanagara, a suburb of Bhagalpur town). It was referred to in the acnient Jaina literature as Punnabhadda Yaksa Caiya. A number of ancient Jaina images" were recovered from a tank (probably the ancient tank caused to be excavated by the order of queen Gaggara) at Campanagara. Majority of them are adoring the Sri Campapur Digambar Jain Siddhaksetra, Nathnagara. One of them, a caubist of Bhagavan Adinatha is, however, preserved in the Sri Digambara Jain Mandir, Jain Mandir Lane, Bhagalpur. This temple was constructed in the Vikram Samvat 1929 (1872 A.D.) by the efforts of local Jainas, just to provide boarding facilities to the Jaina pilgrims.
The caubist of Bhagavan Adinatha (Fig. 2) is carved out of black stone. It measures 16 x 10 centimetres. It is carved out in an almost rectangular piece of stone. The sculptural details are in four tiers. The upper most tier has the figure of Bhagavan Adinatha who is seated in the samparyanka mudra (cross legged position). His half opened eyes, elongated ears, and locks of hair hanging on shoulders denote this image as of Bhagavan Adinatha. He is flanked by two attendants, standing one on his either side. The Jina has triratha chatra over his head. They are decorated with the aŝokadruma. The flying Vidyadharas holding long flowery garlands in their respective hands are engraved just over the head of Bhagavan Adinatha. He is seated on Kailasa, the seat prescribed for him in the silpa text.9 In the second tier from the top, seven figures of the Tirthankaras have been carved out. They are all
1Roychoudhury, P.C., Bihar District Gazetteer-Bhagalpur, Patna, 1982. 2Sinha, A.K., Jaina Shrines in Bhagalpur (in the press)
Samavayanga, p. 67.
*Bhagvati Sutra, p. 2234.
"Law, B.C., Mahavira: His Life and Teachings, London, 1937, p. 32-33. Aupapatika Sutra, p. 10ff. (Sailana Ed.)
'Patil, D.R., The Antiquarrian Remains in Bihar, Patna 1963. Sinha., A.K., Early Jain Images from Bhagalpur (in the press) Rupamandana, verse 27.
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