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

Previous | Next

Page 84
________________ Tirthankara (right): On the western wall away towards the right of mulanayaka, there is another standing Tirthankara. The image stands to a height of 2 1/2 m. over an insignificant pedestal. The hands are stretched and the palms have padmas in the palms. Behind the head, a double foliated lotus medallion is seen. The figure is flanked by a standing devotees with a kamandala below, while at the top, there are standing chamaradharis. The chinha is not indicated, as such, it is difficult to say to which Tirthankara it refers to. Tirthankara (left): Farther away towards the left on the western wall, almost adjacent to the northern wall, there is a seated Tirthankara. He is placed over an ornate pitha measuring 2 m.x50 cm. the lower one is the usual simhapitha with the cihnapitha over it. The mukhapattika of the chinhapitha carries the figure of a goat, as such, the Tirthankara can be identified as Kunthunatha, the 17th in the series. No doubt, the figure is shown seated in padmasana with the palms placed one over the other, as in all Tirthankar figures. But, the knees, the thigh muscles and the fore hands suffered damage from the iconoclasts. Besides these, the face is also obliterated. However, the maladharis yaksas and standing attendant deities on either side, the gajakalasha motif, the hemisphercial lotus halo behind the head are completely preserved. Again towards the extreme north, the cave space is occupied by a panel of three Tirthankaras in a squarish niche of side 2 m. They are shown between two decorated pillars, the end of which, has wavy floral garlands, emerging on either side from lamp like capitals. The panel of the three Tirthankaras in a line can be identified as Tritirthika (plate 16). All the three are sculptured exquisitely in the niche. Cave (Relief) No. 19: This is not a cave. It is a flaked area on a stone, with a shallow cutting. Hence, it is shown as a relief. In this, there are three reliefs. These reliefs are not approachable because of their high inaccessible location corresponding to balcony of former Cave No. 18. These do not have a regular stepway. On the other hand, they lie as high as 10 m. cut is rectangular spaces to a depth of 25 cms. above the common verandah in front of cave series. The area is divided into 3 niches. The first one measures 3 x2 m. The second is a small niche, in line towards north. It measures 1 x.75 m. The third occupies slightly a bigger area and measures 1.25 x 1m. As stated, these are not deep cut caves. Moreover, they are shown in niches with their reliefs of Tirthankaras. (64)

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188