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APRIL 1986
145
21. Temple Fragment having a Seated Jina Figure
139 cms x 23 cms
(c) Outside Kutcha School Building
22. Pedestal of a Jina Image
The main image is completely broken away. On the lower register of the panca-rathą pedestal within a band and distributed on all the facets are eight Jyotiska-devas. On the central projection, placed between figures of Budha and Vrhaspati is a circular disc embellished with lotus petals. The upper register of the pedestal has pilastered compartments on all its facets. An exquisite figure of an eight-armed goddess riding a peacock occupies the central one. On the interior facets there are figures of gogleeyed leoglyphs, that on the left being badly damaged, while the exterior facets are left blank.
The pedestal is of considerable iconographic interest. The circular disc designed with lotus petals placed at the centre of the lower register can be construed to represent either a stylized padma or a dharmacakra. In the former case, the padma can be taken as the lāñchana and the image identified as that of Padmaprabha. However, the figures of the eightarmed goddess poses problems. Her peacock mount and attributes in hands (four right hands : varada, vajra, śakti, śüla, four left hands : bull, disc, cock (?), and staff) do not correspond with the description of the Yaksi of Padmaprabha. On the other hand the goddess betrays strong resemblance to Prajnapti, the Yaksi of Sambhavanatha.48
49cms x 72cms Circa 9th/10th Century A.D. Plate Nos. 17 and 18
23. Lower Portion of an Image of Candraprabha
Only the feet of the Jina survive. Behind the lotus seat on the centre of the pedestal is a crescent, the lāñchana of Chandraprabha. On either side are two kneeling devotees, one holding a garland and the other in
- Yaksi Prajnapti is a diety of wisdom and as a protectress from misery, fear and
disease, she has the counterpoint in Kaumari the Sakti of Skandakumara. See, U. P. Shah, "Iconography of Sixteen Jaina Mahavidyas", Journal of the Indian Society of Oriental Art, Vol. XV, Calcutta, 1947, p. 127.
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