Jain Journal 2001 07

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

Page 22

EKAMBARANATHAN: MAHAVIRA IN SCULPTURAL ART-TAMIL NADU
through the bhakti-movement spear-headed by the Saiva Nayanmars and Vaiṣṇava Alvars on the one hand and the large scale brahmanical temple building activities of the Pallava and early Pandya Kings on the other. However, soon Jainism recovered from adversities and began to possess a fresh lease of life by adjusting itself to the changing circumstances and accommodating certain elements from brahmanism. In this process of assimilation and adjustments, neoJainism gave importance to iconic and ritualistic worship of the Tirthankaras and their attendent deities in order to make their religion colourful and, at the same time, to counter balance the growth of brahmanism. As a sequel to this, images of Mahāvīra also came to be carved on the over hanging boulders of the already existing Jaina caves. Simultaneously, structural temples dedicated to him were also built in villages, the earliest of which existed at Tirupparuttikunram near Kanchipuram and at Valuvur near Vandavāsi, the former enshrined a stucco image and the latter a stone figure of Mahāvīra. These early images are rather simple and archaic, as iconographic standardisation had not taken place by then. The Vardhamana temple at Tirupparuttikunram owes its origin even to the 6th century A.D. and the Pallava king Simhaviṣņu (556 A.D.) made some land donations infavour of the Munisangha attached to the temple.2
Stone Sculptures of Mahāvira
Mahavira is portrayed in sculptural art either all alone or along with other Tirthankaras. In the second category, his figures are sculpted in a group of two, three, four and rarely five. Such group sculptures are carved on boulders or on the facade of caves. Single sculptures, on the other hand, may be either rock-cut or loose images.
The earliest known sculpture of Mahavira, dated to 7th century A.D., recovered from Valuvur, is now under worship in the Jaina temple at Venkurnram near Vandavāsi. It is a low relief shown seated in dhyāna posture, having a slender body, flexible arms, loosely placed legs and surmounted by a trichatra resembling three discs kept one over the other. Its eyes are oblique, nose flat and lips protuberant. Chauri-bearers and creeper designs are conspicuous by their absence in this archaic specimen. Being the earliest image, anatomical perfection had not been achieved in modelling it. This icon has been worshipped by local Jainas as an image of Mahavira for well over a century.
Next in point of time, that is to say, 8th century sculptures of Mahavira are found at Panchapaṇḍavamalai, Karuppankunru and
ARE, A-10/1958-59.
2.
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