Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

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

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JAINA ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF TAMILNADU
Perumandur, Chittamur, Vidur etc. Simultaneously metal figurines of this yakshi are also available in places like Venkunram, Nelliyankulam, Perumandur, Chittamur, Vidur, Elankadu etc. The bronze specimen at Venkundram dated to 18th cent. A.D. does not differ iconographically with the stone representation of yakshi. Here, she is in sukhasana posture and endowed with eight hands,in which she carries sula, chakra, arrow, pasa, bow, fruit, fish and one arm in abaya. Around the makuta, jvala is depicted. In the center of her crown, a miniature carving of Jina image is depicted. She almost resembles Brahmanical Kali or Bhadrakali. Such representations of Jvalamalini on metal are also found at Ponnur and Elankadu, which are dated to medieval period.
OTHER DEITIES
Saraswati, Brahmadeva and Ksheratrapala are some of the other deities in Jainism for whom bronzes have been made only in the modern times. The iconographical features of these bronzes almost resemble Brahmanical deities.
SARASWATI AND BRAHMADEVA
She is also called as Vakdevi, Jinadevi, Jinaaisvarya, Kalaimagal and Srutadevi. However, the name Jinavani is popular. She must be shown in sukhasana with four arms holding ankusa, pasa, akshamala and pushtaka and ankusa or kamandala. A beautiful bronze image of Jinadevi from Salukki, dated to 12th cent.A.D. presently in the Madras Museum, in ardhapadmasana with the above said attributes, portrays the Chola school of workmanship. Similarly, Brahmadeva is another minor deity. Certain elements
from the folk deity Aiyanar and brahmanical deity