Book Title: Jain Temples of Rajasthan
Author(s): Sehdav Kumar
Publisher: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Art Abhinav Publications

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Page 132
________________ One of the finest and most complex images of Ambika is a tenth century relief, now in the museum at Mathura. The goddess sits in ardhaparyanka posture, holding one child on her lap and another standing near her. She is flanked on either side by a camaradhara, Gaṇeśa and Kubera. On the sides of the tirthankara Neminatha are Krsna as Vişņu and Balarama; according to the Jain tradition, all three Kṛṣṇa, Balarama and Neminatha belonged to the same family. The upper part also shows four more divine figures in flying-postures. At the bottom are eight female devotees. This relief is an important icon showing a fusion of Jain and Hindu concepts. - In the Jain caves at Ellora, in the Indra Sabha complex, there is a beautiful image of Ambika; this has been described by one critic as "the loveliest woman in Ellora....indeed, her coquetry, pride of beauty and elegance have few equals in Indian art."" - Ambika is also depicted in Lunavasahi on the ceilings in the north and the south bays. She is flanked on each side by dancers and a female cauri-bearer. The six-armed goddess is seated in lalitasana on her lion mount. She carries amralumbi in her five arms, while in her sixth arm she holds a child. Ambika, dancers and lovers in mithuna, with tirthankara Neminatha in dhyanamudrä in the Parsvanatha temple, Ranakpur. There is an image of two-armed yakşi Ambika on a corridor ceiling in the Lunavasahi temple. She sits in lalitasana on her lion mount. She carries amralumbi in one hand and holds a child in her lap with the other. On either side of her is represented a tree motif below which stand an arädhaka, 'a devotee', with folded hands. Leda 114

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