Jain Journal 1993 10

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

Page 46

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JAIN JOURNAL
of copper for their iconographic character and antiquity. Of these first one represents a Caturvimšati-pațța or Caubist, the second one also a Patta icon but with fourteen Tirthankaras and the third one a Caumukha, the miniature Jaina Shrine. All the three icons exhibit the characteristic colour due to prolonged exposure and infrequent praşāla (cleaning).
The Caturviņśati-Patta is a characteristic icon worshipped in almost all temples in Tamilnadu. There are varieties of depiction both in stone and metal. In some temples there are pațțas that depict the Trikala Tirthankaras (seventytwo in number). The embellisbmicnt details and the relative position of the Mūlanayaka and also the posture from the basis for variations. In Tamilnadu invariably the Mülanayaka is depicted in Kāyotsarga posture and other images in Padmasana posture Rarely there may be two Tirthañkaras carved in kayotsarga posture. Unlike the other regions, the caturvimšati pattas in Tamilnadu are not with lañchanas. Of course when Bhagavān Parsvadātha is a mūlanayaka, the serpent hood is carved over the head. Otherwise the mulani yaka is generally identified with Bhagavan Adipatha or the mülanāyaka of the particular temple in which the patta is worshipped. In some temples the back of the patta is made of bronze and the images of copper with a colour contrast. Sometimes one or two supernumerary Tirthankara images are also carved in the stela.
The Caumukha shrines are the fine examples of symbolic Jaina art. Unlike the Caubisi it is not a common icon in temples of Tamilnadu. It is generally called Sarvatobhadrikā and resembles the Vimana over the Garbhagha. Most of the Caumukha icons are metalic and stone carved miniature shrines are very rare.
The temple architecture in Tamilnadu effected a marked variation in this symbolic Jaina art. In Jaina temples of Tamilnadu there is a prominent stone pillar with quadrangular basal portion gradually carved with stripes making it cylindrical in outline. It is called Mānasthampa and erected over an elaborately decorated pedestal. On the quadrangular basal portion are carved images of Tirthankaras with their lanchanas. The tip of the pillar is fixed with a caumukha surmounted over the lotus petals. In some temples the four corners of the base of the caumukha are fixed a small metalic bell whose tongues are welded with a diamond shaped small metal plates projecting outside. These plates swing with the wind and ring the bells. (Plate 1)