Jain Journal 1991 01

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

Page 45

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JAIN JOURNAL
can be recognised by their respective cognizance or lānchana executed on the pedestal. Here, only we can identify the Tirthankara śāntinātha with his cognizance deer and Pārsvanātha for being canopied by serpenthood and the other two can be identified with much difficulty as their cognizance marks have been abraded. But the locks of hanging over the shoulder of Rsabhanātha while the bull is in much abraded condition. The last one may be Candraprabha, the eighth Ticthankara having faint trace of moon. This stone replica of temple or the Caumukha measures 0.51 m. in height and 0.15 m. x 0.14 m. in length and breadth. This is of sand stone. The curvilinear śikhara type replica has gradual recessing tiers, twelve in number meeting at benki above which a lotus with bloomed petals being surmounted by khapuri. At the base of the first tier is a projected bandh and it separates the vāranda from the towering roof and below it motifs of corner bracket are fashioned at four corners and are succeeded by twelve beaded motifs along two downward rows vertically ending at the pista.
To the south of Sijua, on the eastern bank of Kansai is situated the village Daintikri (87°1'18" E, 22°36'47" N) in Midnapur District, where a pañcaratha pidha temple made of laterite blocks is awaiting to be crumbled to the dust. The entrance is on the south-eastern side. The inside space or the sanctum is 1.25 m. (east-west) x 1.12 m. (northsouth). The roof was made by corbelling inside which gives pidha appearance in the outside. Just opposite to the entrance, the vedi or the pedestal of the deity was constructed 0.80 m. in height On the background a shallow niche with torana surmounted by a khapuri motif was arranged - now the empty space only indicates that there was once a deity. Though at present it is difficult to say anything firmly about to which deity this temple was dedicated but it may be surmised that this was a Jaina temple as there are report of innumerable Jaina sculptures lying scattered in the neighbouring areas and the nearby village Netai 2
2
Tarapada Santra, Medinipur Jelar Purakirti, Pratnatatva Adhikar, Tathya O Sanskriti Bibhag, 1987.