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A Note on Jaina Sculptural Remains at Sitalpur, Bhangra, Harup and Deoli
Villages in Purulia District
ATUL CHANDRA BHOWMICK
Sitalpur and Bhangra villages are situated about 8 kms. to the northeast of Purulia town in West Bengal and 1.5 kms. south and 1 km. north of Bhangra mour (crossing) respectively on Hura road. The villages Harup and Deoli also under purview of discussion are situated nearly 3 kms. south-west from the Suisa railway station, near the Baghmundi hill. This note is prepared on the basis of the iconography and style of the sculptural remains.
1. Rsabhanatha at Sitalpur village
The image of Rsabhanatha (fig. 1) is set in the northern wall of the Siva temple, situated at the southern side of the Sitalpur village and is carved in chlorite-schist. The sculpture measures 132.5 cms. x 64.0 cms. Rsabhanatha stands erect on a raised lotus throne (padmāsana) in samapadasthānaka in kāyotsarga asana (letting loose the body), hands dangling down stiffly at a point above the knee height facing the palms towards the body. Mild form, youthful body and nudity are distinguishing features. Pedestal (6.0 cms. x 4.5 cms.) shows from right to left a figure of a vyāla, female donor in kneeling posture with añjali mudrā showing obeisance, head of an animal with horn and a human figure, bull-his cognizance, human figure holding a stick in his right hand and a lotus in his left hand, male donor in kneeling posture with añjali mudrā and vyāla indicating the lion throne. The pedestal shows a bloomed lotus with petals curling out in two rows. Rsabhanatha is adorned with jațā-mukuța having a knot in the hair in front. The aura is rimmed beautifully with lotus petals. The firascakra is ovaloid instead of being round as if to connote an effulgent symmetry with the crown of the god. The top of the stele is crowned with a trilinear chatra, each smaller than the one below. The chatra is crowned by a tier which has delineation of leaf pattern indicating the heavenly nyagrodha or banyan tree under which Rsabhadeva received the kevala jñāna. Rsabhanatha is flanked by adherent
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