Jain Journal 1991 10

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

Page 26

OCTOBER, 1991
lion-based pillars from the same Jaina temple now adorn the Śiva temple at Tennangudi, 39
At present, Jaina vestiges in the form of sculptures of a Tirthankara and a Yakşi and a few lion-based pillars are found near the Palliyurani tank of the village. The Tirthankara, shown seated in yogāsana, is a small figure while Ambika Yakşi, also shown seated on a pedestal, is bigger in size. The basal part of the Yakși image contains an inscription in 10th century A. D. characters. It records that the Yakşi sculpture was caused to be made by Jayankonda Cola Muvendavelan of Kulamangalanadu. He is said to be an official working under Rajaraja Cola I. Kulamangalam is a village, bearing the same name, in Alangudi taluk. The administrative unit of Nadu in the present context derived its name after the village Kulamangalam.
14. Pudukkottai Museum
109
Isolated Jaina sculptures found in some villages in and around Pudukkottai have been collected and preserved in the Government Museum at Pudukkottai. They include stone sculptures and bronze images of Tirthankaras. Among them, the specimen from Mosakkudi deserves special mention. It is a slender figure, shown in yoga posture, with the arms and legs conventionally represented. The arms are not placed as usual on the legs kept in padmāsana, but held above the legs. The body is neither massive nor rigid. The other features like simhasana, camaradhāris, prabhāvali, creeper design etc., are conspicuous by their absence. The triple umbrellas is the only accessary motif found in this image. The simplicity and grandeur of the sculpture could be assigned to the style of the 8th century A.D.41 (p. 97)
A standing image of Parsvanatha canopied by a five-hooded serpent and a seated figure of Mahavira with a triple umbrellas shown above the head, reported to have come from Vellanur and a few miniature images of Mahavira from an unknown provenance, all datable to the 13th-14th century A.D., are some of the Jaina sculptures preserved in the Museum. 42 Besides, there are five bronze images also found in
39 MPS, Vol. II, pt-2, pp. 990 996
40 Ibid., p. 995
41 M. S. Chandrasekar, Guide to the Principal Exhibits in the Government Museum, Pudukkottai, fig. 32
42 Ibid., p. 122