Jain Sanctuaries of the Fortress of Gwalior

Author(s): T V G Shastri
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore

Page 77

In the separate treatment, prominance is given not only to the body but also to the position of hands and les. The toes of the crossed legs of the mulanayaka are well exposed giving the detais of the nails in the padmasana position. The levelled up soles of the feet over the muscles of the lower legs, the fabulous thighs, demonstrate the youthful anatony of the Tirthankara.
The upper portion especially the stomach, the upper arms are featureless excepting the navel. The neck is shown in two folds. The ears are long drawn with ornaments in the ear-lobes along the shoulders. The face is vell portrayed with eyes wide open below the eyebrow projections. The nose and the chin portion, suffered damage possibly by the iconoclasts. The serpentine canopy overhead shows 'five projecting hoods, suggesting that the Tirthankara is Suparsvanatha (plate 9). The scales in the underside of the hood are remarkably sculptured.
According to some, the image represents Parsvanatha. But the pedestal clearly shows a svastika suggesting that the image is Suparsvanatha and not Parsvanatha. Generally, in Parsvanatha images, 'seven' hoods are represented. As stated only five hoods are seen here.
There are miniature Tirthankaras carved on left side of the image. They also contain the maladharis seated over knees near the upper arms and chamaradharis near the upper legs.
Cave 11 This appears to have been excavated with deeper cutting without any hindrance to the vision of the main deity. This is made especially in showing the entire profile of the image and the cave entrance by cutting inside to a uniform depth of 1.5 m. into an area of the rock surface 7 x 3 m. Besides, further cutting above the rectangular niche, a uniform arch of the same width of 3 m. and depth of 1 m. is made, so as to cover the entire cave space 10 m. in height and 3 m. in width.
The Image: This is a seated image of Adinatha (Plate 10). It is prominently seen from the common verandah. The interior cutting at the base of the cave does not show any vestibular space from the entrance upto the arch at the top.
Towards the western back wall, the visual configuration of the seated figure of Tirthankara Adinatha with well decorated pedestals, the simha and chinhapithas can be clearly seen. The simhapitha contains two niches at the extreme ends showing the images as Gomukha yaksha and Chakreshwari yakshi.
The visual picture of the cave entrance is flanked by an impressive pillared frame with projected by a gorgoyle standing over the makara (Plate 11). In the centre the mulanayaka
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