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A.K Bhattacharya: Studies in Jainalconography
work embodies the labours of a research worker in field not only hitherto almost unexplored but full of thorns.
The deities dealt with here are by no means exhaustive but only taken to represent certain important types. Materials have already been collected to discuss the iconography of other saīsunadevas, for example, but they have not been included in the present thesis deliberately, as most of them do not represent any type nor is it possible to include them within the limited scope of the present work. In short, in the work presented here only a general idea as to the line of study and investigation has been indicated leaving scope for developing it further.
Some apology need be offered, it seems, regarding the way of treatment of the iconography of the Tirthankaras. Considering that some published dissertations have noted the textual materials with reference to the cognizances, the names of the Yakşas and Yaksinis etc. we have confined ourselves to studying the extant archaeological specimens discussing them age by age in their development. In this regard only the very peculiar specimens have been discussed and plates for these have been provided as far as possible. The most important thing to be noted in this connection is the explanation offered of the terms for the two well-known postures viz : Kāyotsarga and Padmāsana, in which the Tīrthankara figures are represented in both plastic art and painting.
The plates have been arranged each after the relevant chapter and they have been titled as in a series and not numbered, for obvious reasons.
In view of the difficultics that naturally beset such study in a branch where unfortunately texts are very often not published and the mss. are not easily available and lastly the published texts are not critically edited, it is hoped any appreciation of the work presented here will encourage further development of the subject including a study of not only the remaining image-forms but subjects like iconometry as well.
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