Book Title: Jain Sanctuaries of the Fortress of Gwalior
Author(s): T V G Shastri
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore

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Page 113
________________ Above the shoulders of the main image, two maladharis are represented with raised up garlands, on either side. Again, on the other side, near the knees, there are standing chamaradharies with fly whisks. Over the chest, there is a petalled srivatsa as usually found in Jain cave images. The lips and nose are disfigured by the iconoclasts. The long drawn, ear ornaments are also broken. The face which normally gives way, is strangely in tact. In general, the facial expression shows, a smile, the riglets of hair and the protrusion at the top, shows the usual expression of mahapurushalaksana. Behind the head, there is an oval shaped lotus decoration with a pot of foliage (ghata-pallva) motif. Possibly, there could have been an attempt to show, brick colour to the face as seen from the patches of paint flaked- off here and there. The Cave of Parsvanatha (1): Towards the right side of the cave of Naminatha lies the cave of Parsvanatha. It is also excavated to bring out similar profile of the sculptured image, of the same dimensions from the rock surface, as in the former. There are, however, considerable ethnic differences in the sculptural representations of the images and associated figures. However, the posture and the placement of the associated images remain the same. The Entrance: To reach the precincts of the entrance to this, one has to treck pathway along rugged steps of the hill slope. But the movement up to the sanctuary is less tiresome, compared with the former. The rectangular plinth of the sanctuary measures 5x3 m. The Lower Chamber: The lower chamber of the cave is wide enough and has a plinth area of 10 x 5 m. It is excavated to a unifom height of 6.5 m. As in the former, the pedestal raises to 5 m. above the base almost up to the centre of the backwall. On the other hand, the eastern and western walls are more decorated with floral scroll work, than in the cave of Naminatha. The Pedestal : This is more ornate with the representation of standing lions shown on either side. The central panel contains the Dharanendra, the Yaksha of Parsvanatha and the yaksi Padmavati. Below the seated figure of the image, the - vrttapitha shows squarish panels containing the decoration of two lotus flowers. On the other hand, the central niche-containing the symbol 'naga' is flanked by an embeded creeper decoration. (93)

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