Jaina Bronzes the Patna Museum

Author(s): Harikishor Prasad
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_

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JAINA BRONZES IN THE PATNA MUSEUM : 285 6. The lanchanas of the Tirthankaras are depicted on the pedestal itself and not on the stole or at the top of the halo as we find during the Gupta period. This peculiarity came in vogue during the Pala period. 7. Two of the images of the Tirthankaras are shown inside canopied simhasanas, which is a very late conception. Probably it originated during the Pala period. 8. Some of the images are inscribed in characters assignable to about 11th century A.D. on palaeographical grounds. And as such these images are much later in date than the Chausa bronzes. Some of these images can be identified as follows with the help of their lanchanas : (a) Rsabhanatha, (b) Candraprabha, (c) Ajitanatha, (d) santinatha, (e) Kunthunatha, (f) Parsvanatha, (g) Neminatha, (h) Mahavira, (i) a female deity, probably Ambika. These are now described below. (1) P. M. Arch. No. 10676 : Rsabhanatha. Recognised as such by his Kesavallari falling on his shoulders and from his lanchana, the 'Bull', depicted on his pedestal; standing on a lotus pedestal with his hands reaching his knees; hair on sides arranged in curls with bends shewn upwards and hair on head arranged in a spiral knot at the top; having urna on forehead. Height: 33". (2) P. M. Arch. No. 10680 : Rsabhanatha. Recognised as such by his Kesavallari falling on his shoulders and from his lanchana, the 'Bull', appearing on his pedestal, standing on a lotus pedestal with his hands coming down to his knees, hair on sides arranged in curls with bends shewn upwards and hair on head arranged in a spiral knot at the top, having urna on forehead; traces of Srivatsa on chest, pedestal divided in various tiers and showing his emblem (lanchana), the 'Bull', and having a devotee with folded hands seated on some object which comes out from the lower portion of the pedestal itself. Inscripton on pedestal which reads " Adharya Mayila". Height: 75". (Fig. 8.) (3) P. M. Arch. No. 10681. Rsabhanatha, but without Srivatsa on chest; pedestal also not showing the figure of devotee and is differently designed than the earlier ones--its middle portion shows vertical cuttings in parallel