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CHAPTER 38]
MUSEUMS IN INDIA projections support the Jina's Yakşa and Yakşi. The elaborate but broken prabhävalt bears representations of twenty-three Tirthankaras with Parsvanātha on the top. Caurīs appear on either side of the main figure, which has a triple umbrella over it. The image is of fine finish with curly locks of hair on the head and longer tufts of hair hanging on either side of the head. (Plate 383B.) Another Mahavira (36-3/35, height 13.3 cm.) from the same hoard is seated on a pedestal surmounted by a perforated āsana with the lion-lañchana between two kneeling devotees. The seat supports a prabhă depicting Gandharvas and Vidya-devi with a hook in her hand. The Yaksas stand on either side of the main figure. Another (damaged) Mahāvira (36-4/35, height 29 cm.) is seated on a sinhäsana, the front of which bears three lions, the central one being the lanchana. A fragment of the prabha has the triple umbrella and another the bha-mandala. The Kannada inscription on the pedestal gives the name of the female donor.
Amongst the finds from Singanikuppam, District South Arcot, are two Mahăvira figures. The first (389/57, height 84 cm.), well-proportioned and of smooth and pleasing workmanship, stands in kayotsarga on a padmasana, with the right hand broken. It may belong to the mid-fourteenth century. (Plate 384A). The other (390/57, height 19 cm.) stands on a circular metal plate, which was perhaps inserted into a pedestal, now missing. There are a few other Tirthankaras from the place, but they cannot be identified and are generally featureless. A Tirthankara (height 39 cm.) from Sivaganga, District Ramanathapuram, is seated in ardha-paryarikāsana on a simple but nicelymoulded high bhadrâsana. Behind the asana are two cauri-bearers standing symmetrically in tri-bhanga and wearing karanda-mukutas. "The Tirthankara is well-proportioned. The lion-motifs at the extreme of the back of the seat, though much conventionalized, indicate the simhasana. Two more rampant lions, facing out on either side of the pedestal, carry short pins above their heads intended for the attachment of the prabhā. The drapery and ornaments of the cauri-bearers indicate a late Påndya date, circa 1200.
Mention may also be made of a seated Candraprabha with two attendants (8/27) from Tirumalai, District North Arcot, and of a thirteenth-century Rşabhanatha recently acquired from Gidangil, District South Arcot.
AMBIKA : In a piece from Singanikuppam (321/57, height 87.7 cm.) Ambika is seen standing in graceful tri-bharga on a finely-moulded padmasana placed over a bhadrâsana which has a projection in front. The Yaksi rests her left hand on the head of a pretty-looking ceri (maid) who also stands in tri-bhanga and holds a garland. A small boy stands to the right of Ambikā.
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