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Iconography of 24 Tirthankaras
century A.D. It is the earliest known datable Jaina image showing introduction of attendant Yakşa (Sarvanubhuti) and Yakşi (Ambikā). Hair-locks are clearly visible on the shoulders of the Jina. If the two deer flanking the dharmacakra stand for cognizance, then this image is of Santinātha. 18
An interesting metal image of Rṣabhanatha, from Vasantagadh hoard, age c. sixth century A.D., illustrated in Fig. 34, shows the dharmacakra (without deer) in the centre of the pedestal and having on each end (in line with the dharmacakra) a bull facing the Wheel of Law. The bull is the cognizance of Rşabhanatha. Similarly, on the pedestal of the standing sculpture of Rṣabhanatha at Sira Pahari, M.P., published by us in Jaina Art and Architecture, vol. I, plate 63, a bull is shown at each end of the pedestal with the dharmacakra in the centre and a worshipper (donor ?) on each side of the Wheel. It is interesting to note here that the bulls do not face the Wheel of Law. Ṛsabha has hair-locks on his shoulder. The sculpture dates from c. sixth century A.D. Two beautiful rock-cut relief sculptures of Rṣabha, one in the sitting posture and the other adjoining one in the kayotsarga mudra, published by us in Jaina Art and Architecture, I, plate 60B, date from c. end of the sixth century or early seventh century A.D. Of about the same period is the rock-cut standing Rṣabha, published in Studies in Jaina Art, figure 31, hailing from Dhank, Saurashtra.
A beautiful standing metal image of Rṣabha, from Vasantagadh, cast by the artist Śivanāga in V.S. 744 A.D. 687, is published in Lalit Kala, nos. 1-2, pp. 56f, pl. IX, figs. 1-2. Of c. 7th cent. A.D. a beautiful inscribed bronze image of Adinatha, from Sirpur in Khandesh, now in the L.D. Institute, Ahmedabad, is published by us in the Treasures of Jaina Bhandaras, while a standing metal image of Rṣabha from Bhinmal, Rajasthan, dating from c. seventh century and showing heavy jață-locks on shoulders, is published in Akota Bronzes, fig. 35b. Figure 27a in the same book is a bronze image of Rṣabha gifted by Guna, and has two-armed Sarvanubhuti yakṣa and the two-armed Ambika on the right and the left respectively of the Jina. On the pedestal are eight small standing figures representing the eight planets. Figure 31b in the same book is another bronze of Adinatha sitting in the padmāsana. Both the bronzes are assigned to the seventh century A.D. and show similar iconographic features. From Akota hoard were discovered two more bronzes of Rṣabha dating from c. eight century. But the more attractive image is a Covisi of Rsabha standing, gifted by Saraṇikā, published in Akota Bronzes, fig. 59. Also, a Şat-tirthika bronze with a torana in front, showing Ṛsabha sitting in padmāsana, with Sarvanubhuti and Ambika as attendant yakṣa and yakṣi, with two figures of two-armed Sarasvati and five figures of Tirthankaras in different compartments of the torana, and eight planet heads on the pedestal, obtained from the same hoard, was installed by Droṇācārya in c. 975 A.D. (vide Akota Bronzes, fig. 61, pp. 57ff). Of about 1000 A.D. are two more bronzes of Rṣabhanatha from Akota, ref. Akota Bronzes, figs. 64-67.
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Images of Rṣabha were very popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan, as in other parts of the country.. From Godhra, Pancha-Mahals, Gujarat, is obtained a beautiful bronze (partly mutilated) of Rṣabha, now preserbed in the Baroda Museum. From Lilva Deva, Pancha-Mahals, North Gujarat were obtained seven Jaina bronzes (now in the Baroda Museum)19 of which one is a tri-tirthika image and another is a covisi or Caturvimsati-patta of Rṣabhanatha, both the images dating from c. 10th century A.D. Mt. Satruñjaya is a famous temple-city mainly associated with the worship of Rṣabhanatha. Vimala Saha in the eleventh century built a temple dedicated to Rṣabhanatha, on Mt. Abu. The Vimala vasahi at Abu has a few more sculptures of Rṣabhanatha with Gomukha and Cakreśvari as attendant Yakṣa and Yakşini. In some cases the old pair of Yakşa Sarvanubhuti and Yakşi Ambika are shown (as at Akota in images referred to above).20 M.N.P. Tiwari has noticed a sculpture of Rṣabha in dhyana mudra and with Sarvanubhūti and Ambika, carved on the ardhamanḍapa of the Mahavira temple at Osia.21 U.P. Shah published a beautiful brass or bronze Caturvimsati-patta of Rṣabha, installed in v.s. 1151=A.D. 1094, preserved in a Jaina temple at Pindawada and possibly from the Vasantagadh hoard in Rajasthan.22 V.S. Srivastava has noticed two metal images of Rsabha (age c. 11th-12th century A.D.) preserved in the Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum, Bikaner, and hailing from Amarasara.23 The famous magnificent temple at Ranakpur, Rajasthan, is a Caumukha temple, dedicated to Adinatha. The temple known as Kesariyāji. dedicated to Ṛṣabhanatha, situated near Udaipur in Rajasthan, is a famous place of pilgrimage both for the Svetämbaras and the Digambaras.
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