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MUSEUMS IN INDIA
Sculptures front Strpur
PĀRSVANATHA: The image of Parsvanátha (0003, height 1.08 m.) is seated in padonasana in dhydna-mudra under the seven-headed hood of a serpent whose body is rendered into a couple of parallel coils and seemingly serves as a cushion at the back of the Tirthankara. At the extremities makaras forming the back seat of the Jina are also visible. The face, hands and knees of the figure are damaged. The Jina has the Srivatsa and the cakra in the centre of his chest and palms respectively. His curly hair is adorned with an uşnisa in the centre. The pedestal of the image is much mutilated. Sculptures from Karitalai
Karitalai was an important contre of the Jainas during the Kalacuri period. A large number of Jaina images have been found at that place, out of which thirty-three have been acquired by the Raipur Museum.
RŞABHANĀTHA : The Museum has in its collection six stone images of Rsabhanātha. Of these an image (2537, height 1.35 m.) shows Rsabbanātha seated in padmasana and dhyana-mudrä on a high ornamental pedestal. The head, right hand and left knee of the image are broken. On the chest is the śrivatsa and behind the head a prabha-mandala is the triple chatra, flanked by an elephant and rider on either side. Above the chatra is a drummer. Below the elephants are shown a couple of Vidyadharas carrying garlands. Below the Vidyadharas are shown the Indras of the Saudharma and Išāna heavens with cauris in their hands. The pedestal shows a bull and below it a representation of the dharma-cakra flanked by a lion on either side. The right corner of the simhasana is occupied by Gomukha, the Yakşa, and Cakreśvari, the Yaksi, seated in lalitasana on the left corner. The second image (2576, height 1.32 m.) of Rsabbanātha is similar to the image described above. Both the hands and knces of the figure are damaged. Yakşi Cakreśvari is shown seated on Garuda. The remaining four images (0033, 2525, 2548, and 2594) show Rsabhanātha seated in padmasana and in dhyana-mudra. The pedestal of one of the images (0033, height 74 cm.) shows on the left corner the goddess Ambika in place of Cakreśvari, while the sirnhäsana of another image (2548) has a pair of elephants in addition
SANTINĂTHA : An image of Sāntinātha (2538) which shows him standing in kayotsarga-posture has on the pedestal a deer, the lanchana of Santinātha, besides flanking lions and miniature representations of Garuda and Mahamānas, the Yakga and Yaksi of Santinātha respectively.
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