Jain Journal 1983 04

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

Page 32

134
depicted according to the silpa text. His lañchana the snake, is seen in the centre of the pedestal. The second image of Bhagavan Parsvanatha (fig. 5) is in bronze. It measures 10×8 inches. Bhagavan Parsvanatha is seated in the samparyaṁkāsana. The lañchana of Bhagavan, the serpent is clearly visible in the middle of the pedestal. The Jina is in yoga mudrā. A nine hooded serpent is canopied over his head. Generally, Bhagavan Parsvanatha is canopied by a seven hooded snake. The practice of depicting the nine hooded snake5 is mentioned in the Gaṇadhara Sarddha Sataka (Pärsvanatha Navaphana Dharaṇa).
JAIN JOURNAL
The most important Jaina image enshrined in the Sri Parsvanatha Digambar Jain Mandir, Monghyr, is of Sasanadevi Padmavati, (Fig. 6) the Yaksini of Bhagavan Parsvanatha. It is carved out in white marble and measures 12×6 inches. According to an inscription inscribed on the pedestal of this icon, it was installed in the year Vikram Samvat 1548 (A.D. 1491). Goddess Padmavati is seated in samparyankāsana upon a lotus pedestal. She is endowed with four hands. She is holding a goad (ankusa) in the upper right hand while a noose in upper left hand. She is seated in deep meditation. She is keeping a rosary in lower left hand and the kusa grass like object in lower right hand. She is bearing a long necklace and round kundalas. As she is associated with the nether regions or pātālapuri. She is canopied by the serpent which is a symbol to her. According to the silpa texts, Bhagavan Parsvanatha is seated over the canopies of the serpent which headed Padmavati. Bhagavan Parsvanatha is seated in padmasana and canopied by a five hooded serpent. The figure of Padmavati under discussion is very important from archaeological point of view because it is singular specimen of its type on the basis of published materials.
From the above discussions, it has become clear that the town of Monghyr is closely associated with Bhagavan Parsvanatha since early historic period. Further the discovery of a colossol torso of Bhagavan Parsvanatha from the heart of the town also strengthen this view. It belonged to the Pala period (circa 9th-10th century A.D.). The original temple dedicated to Bhagavan Parsvanatha was destroyed several times but it always sprung like a blue lotus over the demolished one. The present temple dedicated to Lord Parsvanatha is the latest one in this respect. The author of this paper hopes to bring more material relating to Jainism in Monghyr to light.
"Bloomfield, M., The Life and Stories of the Jaina Saviour Parsvanatha, Baltimore 1914, p. 20.
"Pratisthasarasangraha (MSS).