Jain Journal 2001 07

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

Page 23

JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXVI, No. 1 July 2001 Thiyagadurgam. The Pañchapanṇḍavamālai rock-cut temple which came under Jaina occupation in the 8th century A.D., was provided with a miniature depiction of Mahavira above its ledge.3 It is also in seated meditative posture, but some improvement could be observed in its modelling of physical features. Like the previous specimen, it also has trichatra as the only accessory motif.
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A medium-sized low relief of Mahavira is carved on a boulder adjacent to the Jaina cavern at Karuppankunru near Madurantakam. Seated in ardhaparynkāsana with a slender and flat body, the image is accompanied by camaradaris and adorned with a halo and triple umbrella, thinly executed above the head.
With the above group of two rock-cut images, may be added a loose sculpture carved on a conical shaped slab, now housed inside a Jaina cave at Thiyagadurgam near Kallakurichi. It is also depicted in ardhaparyankasana with a flat body and flexible limbs. Although some refinement could be seen on its facial features, the arms are flexible, fingers of the toe are spread out and the trichatra is discular. Apart from these, flanking chauris, flame-issuing prabhāvati and front-facing lions on the pedestal are additionally met with in this sculpture. Stylistically, it may be slightly later in point of time than the above specimen and be dated to the latter half of the 8th century A.D.
All the aforesaid 8th century icons of Mahavira have the head tonsured, body flat, limbs flexible and trichatra preponderantly discular. In the absence of lion emblem, their identity with Mahavira depends upon their proximity with that of Adinatha sculptures and the prevailing local belief. The two rock-cut images are sculpted not far away from Adinatha, while the loose sculptures are worshipped as Mahavira by the local Jainas.
Under the patronage of the early Pandyas as well as Cholas, a large number of rock-cut images of Mahavira came to be commissioned in the 9th century A.D. at Jaina centres like Eruvadi, Kālugumālai, Chitaral, Melapparaipatti, Muttupatti, Kilavalavu, Anaimalai, Chettipodavu, Pechchipallam, Uttamapalayam, Sittannavasal, Ammachartram, Tirakkol, Tirunatharkunru, Chittamur, Cholapandipuram and Vallimālai. Single representations, among them,
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A. Ekambaranathan, Jaina Temples of Tondainadu, (Tamil), p. 44. At Karuppankunru, Adinatha sculpture is carved at a distance of 12 feet from that of Mahavira. At Pañchapandavamālai, Ādinātha is carved above the natural cave while Mahāvīra is seen above the near by rock cut temple.