Book Title: Jaina Art and Architecture Vol 03
Author(s): A Ghosh
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

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Page 325
________________ CHAPTER 38] MUSEUMS IN INDIA which are unintelligible. A red Kaimur sandstone dvi-mürtika (2557, height 1.38 m.), represents Ajitanātha and Sambhavanātha (plate 373B), while the images of Rsabbanātha and Ajitanátha, Puşpadanta and sitalanatha, Dharmanātha and Santinatha, and Mallinātha and Munisuvratanātha (height of cach 1:07 m.). are of white sandstone. Triple umbrellas, haloes, flying Vidyadharas, caurl-bearers, Indras and the respective Yaksas and Yaksis are depicted in all these images. Two other dvi-mürtikas (2605 and 2610) are badly damaged. On the basis of these images it may not be wrong to conjecture that dvi-mürtikas of perhaps all the twenty-four Tirthaikaras were installed in the Jaina temples at Karitalai. Another piece in the Museum (2595, width 61 cm.) is perhaps the upper part of a tri-mürtika, representing three unidentified Tirthankaras standing in kāyotsarga. SARVATOBHADRIKA : A caumukha sculpture (2555, height 68.5 cm.) represents four Tirtharkaras seated in padmasana on the four sides of a pillar (plate 374A). Of these, Pärsvanātha is identified by the serpent-hood. The others may perhaps be Rşabhanátha, Neminātha and Mahavira. SAHASRA-KÜTAS : There are four examples of sahasra-katas in the collection. The tallest (2519, height 89 cm.) has one hundred and sixty small images in seven tiers. The second example (2537, height 76 cm.) contains one hundred and forty-four images in six tiers. The remaining two (2541 and 2540) have representations of one hundred and sixteen and one hundred and sixtyfour Jinas respectively in five tiers. Cf. above, plate 99. AMBIKĀ : The Sasana-devi of the twenty-second Tirthankara Neminātha, Amra or Ambika, is represented in three sculptures. One of these (0097, height 40.5 cm.) is a white-spotted red-sandstone image of Ambikā seated in lalitäsana on a lion (plate 374B). The two-armed goddess is shown holding an amra-lumbi in her right hand. Her younger child Priyankara, sitting on the lap, is supported by the left hand, while the elder son Subhankara is seen below the right leg of the Yakşi who is also attended by a female attendant on either side. The ornamentation of the image is rich and the expression smiling and blissful. The top portion of the image is broken. The second image (0034, height 91.5 cm.) represents Ambikā standing in tri-bhanga under a mango-tree on a plain pedestal with Priyankara on the lap and Subhankara standing bepeath the bunch of mangoes held by Ambika in her right hand. A small seated figure of Neminātha is seen overhead amidst the flowering tree. To the left and right of Ambikă are standing a bearded devotee with folded hands and a female worshipper respectively. The vehicle of the goddess, a lion, is seen behind her legs. A third piece (2681, height 48 cmn.), appearing to 591

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