Jain Journal 2003 10

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

Page 20

80
JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XXXVII. NO. 2 OCT. 2003
legends woven around the ancient city of Pratisthāna suggest that it was a stronghold of Jaina faith and Jaina friars for centuries. The Sātavāhana king Hāla courted the doctrine of the Jainas and commissioned many Jinālayas at Pratișthānapura. Hence, it is not
surprising that Jinavallabha's wife was from that place. 4. With the carving of the image of Ādinatha on the face of Siddhasila,
the hillock earned the name and fame as Vrṣabhagiri, thus
Siddhashile became prasiddhashile. 5. Jinavallabha, having regard for his brother Pampa, constructed a
Jaina temple named Tribhuvana-tilaka near the hillock, dug a tank called Kavitā-guņārņava, named after the popular title of his brother, and laid a garden known as Madanavilāsa, 'the elegance of Cupid'. Jinavallabha did all this and much more to perpetuate the memory and worldly recognition of Pampa and his poetry, and to proclaim the fame of both Pampa and Jinadharma. Jinavallabha selected this hillock for one more reason. It was very near and to the south of Dharmavura village which was granted to Pampa by Arikesari, as a reward for writing the VAV.
The historical importance of this inscription needs no exaggeration. It furnishes valuable information, hitherto unknown, about the native place of Pampa and Jinavallabha, their parentage and family, the habitat of their ancestors, details of their religious teacher, Jinavallabha's acts of his devotion to Pampa and to his Jinadharma.
The bas-relief image of Astabhuje Cakreśvari Yakshi, seated in latiāsana and Jinas carved in the late Rāshțrakūta style are unique contribution to the field of architecture. The seated figure of a male person, with folded hands, near the right foot of the Yakshi, is Garuda, the Vāhana, Vehicle of Cakreśvarī.
Another important aspect of consideration in the sequel of carved sculpture is the sacred feet chiselled on the crest of another boulder adjascent to the Siddhasila. The sculpture of this pair of hollowed feet, in the centre of a full bloomed sixteen petalled lotus flower, is a suggestive souvenir to commemorate the holy death of an