Jaina Archaeological Heritage of Tamilnadu

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

Page 88

JAINA PAINTINGS
87
be understood. Apart from this, on the eastern wall of the ardhamandapa of the three shrines, there are paintings of Ambika yaksi, Sarvahna yaksa and Brahma yaksa. This is perhaps the first time that these subsidiary deities are portrayed in the paintings. Obviously, reflecting the changes occurring in the religion. The changes that had occurred in the Jaina religion also get reflected in the paintings, as new themes like yaksas and yaksis were introduced along with the stories of Tirthankaras.
This tendency is noticed in Karandai too, wherein in the mandapa of the Dharmadevi shrine, the story of the yaksi forms an important part of the panels. The Karandai temple is about 20 kilometres from Kanchipuram and has paintings dated to the 18th century A.D. Now, only a few of them remain. In one panel, one of the figures sports a cap which is similar to the ones worn by the Muslims, corroborating an oral tradition which says that some Muslim rulers gave endowments to the Karandai temple.
Though now only a few paintings remain, the style and mode of execution suggests they belong to the 18th century A.D. The long slender forms of women and wide shouldered men, the motifs on the dresses, all suggest that they may even belong to an earlier period.
Vidur, near Tindivanam also has paintings of the life of Rsabha which belong to the 19th century A.D. The paintings contain smaller figures and the story of Nami-Vinami are clearly captured.
Perumandur, too has Jaina paintings describing the establishment of a matha by an acarya. These paintings are mostly lost. But, the remaining ones suggests they belong to the 19th century A.D. Apart form this, there are paintings of yaksas like Sarvahna For Private & Personal Use Only