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CHAPTER 37
MUSEUMS ABROAD
BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON
THE EARLIEST JAINA SCULPTURES IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM ARE FROM Mathurā and belong to the Gupta period, circa fifth century. Among them there are three heads of the images of Tirthatikaras carved out in white-spotted red sandstone. In all these the hair of the Tirthankaras is arranged into spiral curls and twirled towards the proper right. The almost round face, bow-shaped eye-brows, broad cheeks and the full lips reveal the artistic genius of the Gupta craftmen of the Mathurā region. In a single example the hair of the Jina is arranged in receding tiers demarcated by lines. In the beautiful bust of a Tīrthankara image the hair of the deity is arranged in schematic curls (plate 315A). He bears a Srivasta-mark on the chest as is found in the contemporary Gupta sculptures from Mathura and elsewhere. The elaborate lotus-halo behind the head of the god, surrounded by a beaded border and scalloped design on its outer rim, indicates the lingering of the Kushan traits in Gupta sculpture.
Central-Indian Jaina sculpture of the medieval period is well-represented in the collection. In one image an eight-armed Yakşi is shown seated in lalitäsana-pose on a lotus issuing from an inscribed pedestal (plate 315B). She holds a garland of flowers in her uppermost hands held behind her crowned head. In one of her right hands she holds a disc with a fluttering tassel and her two hands are held in abhaya- and varada-poses. In her left hands she carries a circular mirror, a conch and probably a cup, now partly damaged. She is flanked by a female attendant on either side. A våmanikå playing on vină stands on the right, and an elephant, the vähana of the Devi is shown on her left near the knee. Two garland-holding damsels are depicted flanking her
An almost similar attitude of holding the garland in the upper hands is also shown in the image of Yoga-Nårāyana from Didwaga. See S. Singh and D. Lal, Catalogue and Guide to Sardar Museum, Jodhpur, Jaipur, 1960-61, p. 8, plate 6.
*Cf. the image of Jaina Kubera from Bansi in the Udaipur Museum, P. Solanki, Handbook to Victoria Hall Museum, Udaipur, Jaipur, Pp. 17-18, plate VI.
