Jain Sanctuaries of the Fortress of Gwalior

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

Page 80

the pillared torana carries miniature shrines. The image stands to a height of 8 m., and 2.5 m. across the shoulders.
Behind the head, over the pedestals, there is a pallava motif represented in the prabhavali. The image has standing chamari bearers on either side. Over the shoulders away on either side, two maladharis are shown with garlands in their hands, as they emerge from a lotus. Lotus motifs are also carved between the head of the image and
dharis. On the top, the gajakalasha motif is also shown, over projecting pedestals.
Tirthankara (South) : On the south wall of the cave, there is a Tirthankara standing to a length of 3 m. The width over the arms is 2 m. On the pedestal below the feet, there is the figure of a 'deer'. Thus, the Tirthankara can be identified as 'Shantinatha'.
Cave 15: Here again, the excavation is done without leaving any vestibular space between the image and the entrance. The rectangular entrance opening 6x3 m. is cut so as to show the outline of the conical stepped shikhara of a rekhanagara prasada. The partially hidden image, is due to the unopened portion above the shikhara motif shown in relief with two lotuses and pendentive representations at the centre. The upper niche 6x3 m. is a deeper cutting over the lintel, into a rectangualr portion in the rock surface exposing the image from the upper arms upto the gajakalasha, on either side and with the lotus motifs on the ceiling.
The Image : The image can be identified as Suvidhinatha or Puspadanta, the 9th Tirthankara. He stands to a height of 10 m. over a plain rectangular pedestal which carries the 'aligator' (makara) as the chinha, the symbol of the Suvidhinatha.
The upper visible part of the image shows the upper arms, the head, and the hemispherical lotus porjection flanked by the gajakalasha moti“ The chamaradharis near the lower legs and the maladharis near the shoulders, have the normal iconographic features associated with the images.
Unlike in other images, the moulding of the head is well preserved. The eyes in ardhanimilita (half closed) the wide nostrils, the smile in the projecting lips and the eye brows, are well portrayed. The ringlets of hair, the pendentive ear lobes with stretched ornaments over the shoulder, the pallava creeper, the lotus petalled 'halo' are portrayed behind the head. They give the image a godly touch in the visual. Under the pillared columnade another seated image of Adinatha is shown. The image is small and measures 1.5 m. in length and 1 m. across the knees. It is a figure with soles of the feet raised up in padmasana. It has the all the associates of Tirthankaras. The chinhapitha shows the figure of the 'bull'. Thus, he could be identified as Adinatha.
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