Jain Journal 1983 04

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

Page 40

142
JAIN JOURNAL
Asutosh Museum. The image was found from an old tank at Ghatesvara (P. S. Kulpi). The Tirthankara is represented as standing and naked. The stone is much weathered and a large bit of the upper corner on the right hand and a bit of the lower corner on the left are missing. Yet the standing effigies of twelve Tirthankaras on the right and twelve on the left side of the image can be discerned. On each side is a male attendant standing on a lotus with three small seated figures beyond them. Upon the pedestal is carved the figure of a bull, the emblem of Adinatha. It is said that two other Digambara (sky-clad) images were found from the same tank but were thrown back into the water.12
About the year 1980, a fine blackstone ‘Digambar' image of the 23rd Jaina Tirthankara, Parsvanatha was found in the river Raidighi Gang by a fisherman. The image was taken to Bolbamni village (P. S. Matta). It is still placed under a tamarind tree in fishermen's quarters being worshipped as Pancanana. The image is two and a half feet high and represents the Tirthankara as standing naked with an umbrella surmounting a many-hooded snake-hood spread over his head. On either side of the umbrella is a drum, below which is a female figure carrying a garland. On either side of the image is a male figure carrying a cowri, standing on a lotus. Between them and the Tirthankara, as well as on the pedestal snakes are carved, the emblem of Parsvanatha.13
Two other Jaina images were collected by late Kalidas Datta. One is a miniature stone Svetamvara image of Naminatha, the twenty first Tirthankara found in plot E. Patharpratima (P. S. Mathurapur). The image is a thin one, 4 inches high and 24 inches wide. The head is
issing. The image is a standing one and bears marks of drapery. On its right is carved a lotus, the emblem of the twenty-first Tirthan A stone image of Parsvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankara, was recovered from Daksin Barasat while digging a ditch. It is now in the Sena-pada of the village. The image is about three feet high and appears to be considerably old as it is much weathered. The image invites comparison with the Parsvanatha from Raidighi. The Tirthankara is represented as standing naked with a many-hooded snake-head over his head. On either side of him there are four snakes rising from his arm and lower down an attendant, who is indistinct. The pedestal is plain. A unique feature is a vanamālā hanging across the knees.15
12V. R. S. M., No. 4, p. 10 ; No. 3, p. 5. 13 Ibid., No. 4, p. 10. 14 Ibid. 15 Ibid., p. 7.