Jain Journal 1984 01

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

Page 44

JANUARY, 1984
of goddess Ambika has been carved out in place of goddess Cakresvari, probably due to her importance in the Jaina pantheon.
Besides, this caubisi of Bhagavan Adinatha is a sigular specimen of its type from the iconographic point of view, reported so far from the eastern part of Bihar. It can be dated in circa 8th century A.D.
A Rare Khadgasana Image of Bhagavan Adinatha
The stone image of Bhagavan Adinatha under study has been enshrined in Sri Campapur Digambar Jain Siddhaksetra, Nathnagar (a suburb of Bhagalpur Town). It is carved out in ashy black stone and measures 25.3 x 15.3 cms. (fig. 3) The black stone, however, has been referred to as best material to carve out the idols of Jaina Tirthankaras.1 The image shows Bhagavan Adinatha standing in kāyotsarga mudrā, a typical yogic form prescribed in the Jaina canons. Actually, Jainism believes in penance (tapasya).2 The Jina's hands are hanging upto his knees. He is nude and youthful in look. The srivatsa mark upon his chest is, however, not clear. All these features are according to the principles laid down in the silpa texts for carving out the idols of Jaina Tirthankaras during the early and medieval period. The Jina's face is calm and serene in appearance accordingly. He is standing upon a simple pedestal on which a cakra (wheel of law) in the form of simple dotted circle has been carved out just below the Jina's feet. The wheel is flanked by two bulls, the lañchana of the Jina. His elongated ears, half closed eyes, tied heirs and a very simple trilinear umbrella (trichatra) over his head are clear-cut example of early sculptural art of the eastern India. The oval shaped prabhāvalī behind his head also shows simple linear design. On both sides of the standing Jina, we find a number of seated deities, which adds more importance to it. To his left side near the shoulder, his Sasanadevi Cakresvari is seated in the padmāsana mudrā upon a lotus pedestal. She is holding a cakra (wheel) as her emblem. On the right side, near Jina's other shoulder, Gomukha, the Yaksa is shown seated upon a lotus pedestal in the padmasana attitude. The flying Vidyadhara emerging from Gomukha's back is attractive and important from iconographic point of view. One of his hand
1 Pratisthasarasamgraha, 3.77.
sramyamtiti sramanah tapasyamtityarthah, Dasavaikalika Sutra, 13.3.
3 ajanulambabahuh srivatsyankaprasantamurtisca
digvasastaruno rupavamsca kayor'hatam devah, Brhatsamhita, 58, 45. ⚫ santaprasannamadhyasthanasagrasthavikaradrk
sampurnabhavarudhanuvidvang laksananvitam, Pratisthasarodhhara, 1.62.
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