Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

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

Page 72

JAINA PAINTINGS 71
form; her right arm is placed on her hip and left raised. Similarly, the sturdier form of the male once perhaps firmly clasped the reins of his steed (that portion of the painting has fallen of). Both the figures are beautifully bejewelled and clad in dresses which have floral patterns. The entire picture brings about a sense of curtailed movement, suggested by the rearing animal and the representation of the riders tilted backwards.
Another patch of paintings has the remnants of the hind portion of a bull in which each and every organ is depicted clearly, the animal is surrounded by clouds. The hooves of the animal in air suggest firm movement. Representation of the riders atop the animal are totally missing except for a beautifully decorated foot of one rider and the right arm with a cloth draped of other rider. Both the animals have been drawn in red ochre lines with a black lining in some portions. Descriptions given in the Sripurana of the celestials of various regions suggest that one of the 16 Kalpavasidevas, Mahendra had the bull as his vahana while Anata and Pranata two other devas had the bull as their cognisance. In all probability, these depictions of the bulls may have denoted that one of these Kings of the celestials descending from the heavens (suggested by the clouds in the paintings); perhaps to offer salutations to the Tirthankaras.
Below these panels, there are paintings of a hamsa with small wings and pointed beak, painted on the ochre and black outline similar in form to those found at Ellora and Sittannavasal. These paintings have been dated by scholars to the 7th - 9th centuries A.D.
In this period, various religious concepts and hard abstract ideas of Jaina philosophy, were adroitly