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APRIL, 1986
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the stiff forward thrust of the chest, and the curve of the left legs of the cauris make an angular tension on the hip. This tension and straightening is obviously present in the major temple sculptures of Orissa, Khajuraho, from the 10th-11th Century A.D. But the main figure is on the whole a representative of the Pala aesthetic ideals, the chestnavel triangle forming the usual gomukhāksti—the head of a cow. But there is a marked angularity in the body format. However, these groups of sculptures may be classified into the following categories :
(1) Short stature, slender legged, short necked type
No. 32, Pl. 24 ; No. 40, Pl. 33 ; No. 29, Pl. 22.
(2) Broad shoulders, elongated type
No. 30, Pl. 23 ; No. 5, Pl. 11 ; No. 48, Pl. 41
(3) Fleshy type
No. 40, Pl. 33 ; No. 47, Pl. 40.
(4) Fleshy, elongated type
No. 47, Pl. 40 ; No. 46, Pl. 39.
(5) Masculine type with prominent body planes
No. 37, Pl. 30 ; No. 45, Pl. 38.
Keeping in view of above discussion, we may now approach to the other sculptures yielded from Pakbirra. There are another series of fragmentary pieces of sculptures showing mainly the lower part of Jina images, and a few high pedestals with elaborate carvings, delineating the Jyotiska-devas, Yaksi, Naga couple etc. Amongst them the sculpture representing the fragment of the image of Parsvanatha attended by the Naga couple (No. 44, Pls. 36 & 37) deserves special mention. We have already known of the 'serpent imagery of the Maniyar Math stuccos. There were three niches on the south-west side of the Maniyar Math cylindrical shrine where the images of serpent deities or Nagas were represented. On the southern side of the same cylinder contained two Nagas and a Nagi. The Maniyar Math is, most probably, derived from the name of Maninaga. It was believed that the realm of the Nagas was located beneath the Vaibhara hill of Rajagrha, close to Maniyar Math.81 There is a legend of a black snake on the eve of the birth of Parsvanatha and we also find the legend of a snake Dharanendra by name
81 Asher, op. cit., pp. 23 and 25.
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