Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

Author(s): A Ekambarnathan
Publisher: Bharat Varshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha

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JAINA SCULPTURAL ART 4
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Tirunatharkunru, adjacent to Ginjee town, contains a huge boulder with an interesting series of twenty-four Tirthankaras, arranged in two rows and accommodated within an oblong framework. The Tirthankaras are sculpted alike in seated posture, surmounted by triple umbrellas, but without other accessory motifs. However, each image is flanked by a pair of flywhisks placed cross-wise, a feature not to be seen in other places.
Vallimalai, 32 kms. north-west of Vellore, was a prominent Jaina centre, attracting monks and lay devotees from Karnataka since the 9th century A.D. The hillock at this place contains sculptures of Jaina deities at different levels. A shallow cavern on the north-eastern side has three groups of sculptures exhibiting the Western Ganga style of art. The first group represents bold reliefs of Adinatha and Mahavira with out the usual accessory motifs like prabhavali, trichatra and creeper design. However, a pair of miniature chauri-bearers could be seen at their shoulder level. Besides, Sarvahna yaksha and Ambika yakshi flank them at the foot-level. A little away from this composition is a bold relief of Padmavati yakshi, seated in sukhasana pose with four arms, carrying attributes such as ankusa, pasa, lotus and fruit. A thinly carved single serpent hood forms the canopy above her crown. Its hefty body, heavy bosom, sturdy limbs and thick folds of abdominal muscles are reminiscent of Western Ganga style. The third group is a row of five monks and a Tirthankara with Kannada label inscriptions mentioning their names incised below the pedestals.
The southern side of the hillock has a series of sculptures depicting Parsvanatha, Chandrantha,
Ambika, Mahavira etc. Among them, the finest is the