Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

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

Page 38

JAINA SCULPTURAL ART of 37
empty shrine is guarded by a pair of dvarapalakas carved more or less in an erect position. Niches on the other sides have life-size, but partially finished images of Dharanendra yaksha and Padmavati yakshi. He is depicted like a royal person wearing a crown adorned with a triple serpent hood. His right arm is raised in anjali, while the left rests on a mace. The portion below the hip remains unfinished. Although the image resembles like a dvarapalaka, the presence of a three hooded snake resolves its identity with Dharanandra. The figure of Padmavati, leaning towards the front, stands gracefully with heavy bosom, raises her right arm in anjali and keeps the left in lolahasta. Its benign countenance, hefty body, bulbous breasts, thick folds of abdominal muscles etc. add charm to the image. Unfortunately, its lower portion remains incomplete. The stoppage of carving works in this temple, according to some scholars, seems to have been a sequel to the sectarian animosity between the brahmanical creeds and the Jainas in the 7th century
A.D. 12
The famous rock-cut temple at Sittannavasal, 16 kms. from Pudukkottai, contains in its shrine a row of three seated figures of Tirthankaras representing Adinatha, Neminatha and Mahavira. Except for the trichatra above their heads, no other decorative elements could be seen around them. When the front mandapa was renovated in the 9th century A.D., its lateral walls were added with bold reliefs of Parsvanatha and an acharya facing each other. Parsvanatha performs austerities in ardhaparyankasana with a five hooded serpent canopy adorning his head arranged in a conical fashion. The other image of the acharya, seated in yogic posture and crowned by a single umbrella above the head, seems to be the same