Jain Journal 1983 04

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

Page 30

132
eastern Bihar, this image of Bhagavan Parsvanatha is the earliest bronze icon in this region.
JAIN JOURNAL
Another early bronze enshrined in Sri Digambar Jain Temple, Pakur represents the eighth Tirthankara, Bhagavan Candraprabha, locally known as Canda Prabhu. It is a tiny specimen measuring 5.2×3.8 centimetres. It is dated in the Vikrama Samvat 1671 (1614 A.D.) The Jina is seated in padmāsana and in deep meditation. Bhagavan Candraprabha's worship is very popular in Rajasthan. In this eastern part of Bihar, this image is one of the early specimen of its type.
The remaining two icons are carved out of marble-one in black marble representing Bhagavan Parsvanatha and the other in white marble depicting Bhagavan Candraprabha. (fig. 4) They belonged to the first quarter of the ninteenth century A.D. The image of Bhagavan Parsvanatha is in padmāsana pose. The seven-hooded snake is canopied over his head. There is an interesting story regarding association of serpent with Bhagavan Parsvanatha in the Parsvanatha Carita.5 Once upon a time Parsvanatha saw a great serpent having been burnt in the fire lit during the pañcagni tapah performed by an ascetic. Parsvanatha, who happened to be present there, extinguished the fire miraculously and rescued the serpent from being burnt into the fire. The serpent was in due course reborn as Dharanendra, the king of the nether world. At some later period, when the Jina was performing austerities in the forests of Kausambi, the serpent king Dharanendra presented himself in state and paid due honour to him. Since then, Bhagavan Parsvanatha became close to him. The śrīvatsa mark over the chest of the Jina is very clear. The last specimen belonged to the Vikrama Samvat 1881 (1824 A.D.) and represents the eighth Tirthankara Bhagavan Candraprabha in the padmasana mudra. It is carved out in the white marble and measure 13.8 x 10.5 centimetres. His symbol, ŝaši (Moon) is clearly visible in the centre of the pedestal over which Bhagavan Candraprabha seated crosslegged with both palms placed one over the other on the lap in the attitude of a Yogi.
In the district of Santal Parganas where Jainism has a very little grip in the society, the above mentioned sculptures are not of less importance. It shows the deep religious feelings of the Jainas of Pakur, who migrated from Rajasthan alongwith them.
4Sharma, B.N., Jaina Pratimayen, Delhi, 1979, p. 42. "Bloomfield, M., The Life and Stories of the Jain Saviour Parsvanatha, Baltimore, 1914, p. 10.