Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

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

Page 37

36 JAINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF TAMILNADU
large space above the main cave was transformed into an array of more than one hundred and fifty images of Tirthankaras and attendant deities, varying in size and arranged in three tiers. The lower two rows are interspersed at intervals by big size images of Adinatha, Neminantha, Mahavira, Parsvanatha, Padmavati and Ambika, commissioned in separate niches. Among them, the figures of Parsva, Padmavati and Ambika deserve special mention.
Parsvanatha is magnificently shown in kayotsarga pose, flanked by kneeling Kamata and casually standing Padmavati yakshi. What is unique in this composition is that Dharanendra, instead of showing him in the form of a five-hooded serpent, is seen in therio-anthropomorphic form sheltering the head of Parsva and unusually holding two fly-whisks in his
arms.
The sculpture of Padmavati is depicted in sukhasana pose with four arms, carrying a pasa, ankusa, fruit and pustaka. Her tall crown is adorned with a five-hooded serpent canopy, arranged beautifully in a conical fashion. Ambika yakshi stands elegantly having a tall and slender body. She is accompanied by one of her sons, lady attendant and the lion mount. The presence of her husband in this composition is noteworthy in that his body is shown trembling at the very sight of the yakshi. The sculpture is carved in conformity with the tradition that when Ambika assumed the golden yakshi form, her husband could not withstand the glow of her body and consequently fell down unconsciously and breathed his last to be reborn as her lion vehicle.
An unfinished rock-cut temple of the 7th century A.D. could be seen on the slopes of Chokkampatti hillock near Kadayanallur in Tirunelveli district. The