Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

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

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JAINA SCULPTURAL ART
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Chettipodavu, on its frontage accommodates a massive figure of Mahavira having broad shoulders, smiling countenance, flaming aureola around the head and flanked by chamradaris and vidhyadaras further above. The bold conception of its physique and horizontality of its shoulders are true reflections of Mahavira's great strength. The interior of the cave is sculpted with low reliefs of three seated Tirthankaras flanked by two forms of Ambika, one seated and the other in a fighting pose.
The latter is a vivid portrayal of the goddess riding a lion, holding a bow and arrow in her arms and fighting with an evil-person riding on an elephant. This is a unique specimen of Ambika yakshi in fighting attitude, probably carved in conformity with some local tradition.
The upper cave known as Pechchipallam also contains a number of Jaina sculptures, mostly representing Parsvanatha. Although all his images are depicted similarly in kayotsarga pose, some difference could be seen in the mode of representing the snakehood and the accompanying figures of Kamata and Padmavati.
The 9th century specimens of Adinatha and Mahavira carved side by side above the cave at Muththupatti near Kilakuyilkudi are remarkable for their elegance and refinement of art. The first image of Adinatha accommodated in a curvilinear niche was commissioned by monk Kanagavira Periyadigal, while that of Mahavira within a rectangular niche was caused to be made by Maganandi acharya."
Uttamapalayam, about one hundred kilometers south-west of Madurai, is yet another 9th century prolific Jaina centre with a natural cave and a group
of bold relief sculptures of Tirthankaras carved on the