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Jaina-Rupa-Mandana
padmāsana in the centre. Silver is inlaid in the eyes, on the cushion and in the drapery hanging on the simhasana. The simhasana of Pärśva is placed on a broad pedestal. In the centre is the dharmacakra with two deer. From the sides spring two lotuses with long stalks on which stand two TirtharkarasRşabhanātha on the right and Mahavira (?) on the left. On top of the big pedestal, on its right end, sits a two-armed figuro of yaksa Sarvanubhūti showing a citron in his right hand and the nakulikå (moneybag) in his left. On the corresponding left side sits a figure of two-armed yakşi Ambikā carrying an amra-lumbi (mango-bunch) in her right hand and holding the child on her lap with the left hand. Both the yakşa and the yakși sit on full-blown lotuses springing from the sides of the pedestal. In the centre of the simhasana is the dharmacakra flanked by two deer. On a lower level, on top of the pedestal are heads of the eight planets. Introduction of planets, either on pedestals as in Western India or on two sides of the Jina-figure as in Eastern India, is seen from c. seventh century A.D. and may have started a little earlier in the latter half of the sixth century after Varā hamihira's works on astronomy and astrology became popular. The treatment of the knot of tails of Dharana and his queen is also a favourite motif of Western Indian artists. For another Tri-Tirthika metal image of Pārśva from Akota and assignable to about the same age, see Akoin kron? Eg. 25. Fig. 26a from the same book is a single image of Pārsva with snake-coils on his back and the canopy of hoods broken, inscribed and gifted by Sagabharjikā in c. 625 A.D. In this image as well as in Akota Bronzes, figs. 306, 31a, 32c, 46a, the attendant yakşa and yakşini are Sarvānubhūti and Ambika, each two-armed and carrying the same symbols. These images are Eka-Tirthika images of Pārsvanātha sitting in padmasana and date from the seventh and eighth centuries A.D. Akota bronzes, fig 34 is an image of Parśva standing with Dharaṇa and his queen, half-human, halfsnake, each in añjali mudrā, shown at ends on top of the pedestal with their tails tied in a typical naga pāśa in the centre.
More elaborate and ornamental Tri-Tirthika metal sculptures however are found in the Vasantagadh hoard (Lalit Kala, nos. 1-2, pp. 55ff, pl. XIII, fig. 12; Akota Bronzes, fig. 49, 4spects of Jaina Art and Architecture, figs. 11-12 of Paper 26). One of these is dated in Samvat 726 and another in Samvat 756 (=699 A.D.). These brass or bronze images also are silver studded as in the Akota bronze mentioned. Besides the figures seen in Akota Bronzes, pl. 25 mentioned above, a standing four-armed Vidyadevi is added on each end behind the yakşa and yakşini figures. A similar very elaborate and well preserved TriTirthika metal sculpture of Pärśva is also found in the Akota hoard (Akota Bronzes, pls. 54, 55). Inscription on the back shows that it was installed by one Regata. Paleographically the inscription can be assigned to c. 890-920 A.D. Beautiful small figures of a male and a female donor are also added on the pedestal. A very beautiful Tri-Tirthika metal image of Párśva, showing similar composition, formerly in Kadi (Gujarat), has now reached the Los Angeles Museum, U.S.A. (Akota Bronzes, fig. 56a). It was installed in Bhrgutirtha (modern Bharuch, Gujarat) in Saka year 910 (A.D. 988) by Pārsvilla gani. (For a few more Tri-Tirthika bronzes from Akota, see Akota Bronzes, figs. 56b, 57b, 60.) Figure 87, illustrated in this book, is a beautiful Şat-Tirthika bronze of Pārsva with an artistic torana in front, dated in V.S. 1088 (A.D. 1031).317 Fig. 68, Akota Bronzes, is an Asta-Tirthika image of Parśva with seven miniature Jinas installed in niches on the torana.
Pārsvanatha has been popular in Western India, in fact in the whole of India. At Chārūpa in North Gujarat there is an early stone sculpture of Pārśva installed in c. eighth century A.D. In Patan, North Gujarat, is the famous temple of Pancasarā Pārsvanātha, the image was formerly worshipped in Pancasarā, the capital of Căpotkata rulers of Gujarat. The temple of Pärsvanātha at Sankheśvara, north Gujarat, is very popular amongst devout Jainas of Gujarat. At Bhiladiyaji in the Banaskantha district, North Gujarat, is a popular Tirtha of this Jina. Temples and images of Cintamani-Pārsvanātha are at many places in Gujarat.
At Dhank, Saurashtra, Gujarat, is a rock-cut figure of Pärsva standing without any garment on his person (Digambara tradition) and attended by smaller figures of Sarvanubhüti and Ambikå (both twoarmed) by his sides. The relief dates from c. seventh century A.D.318 In Rajasthan, about 40 miles from Rsabhadeva (Kesariyaji) tirtha, near Vichhivada on a hill is a shrine of Nagaphana-Parsvanatha. The image in worship is a two-armed Nagaraja sitting in the lalitäsana and having a canopy of seven snake
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