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Jaina Community- A Social Survey
or standing. Small images are made of crystal, alabastor, soapstone, bloodstone, and various other precious and semiprecious materials; while the larger ones are carved from whatever kind of stone happens to be locally available.108 Updoubtedly the most remarkable of the Jaina statues are the celebrated colossi of Southern India, the largest free standing statues in Asia, which are three in number, situated respectively at Śravanabelagoļa in Mysore (constructed in 983 A. D. and 56. 1/2 feet in height), at Kārakala in South Kanara (constructed in 1432 A. D. and about 41 feet in height) and at Yeņūra or Venūra in South Kanara (constructed in 1604 A. D. and 35 feet in height). All three, being set on the top of eminences, are visible for miles around, and inspite of their formalism command respectful attention by their enormous mass and expression of dignified serenity. By all means these statues are among the most remarkable works of native art in the South of India.109
Regarding the unrivalled progress of the Jainas in decorative sculpture, as distinguished from individual statuary, Smith remarks that “The Jainas encouraged the work of a high order of excellence and beauty, employed to adorn with the utmost possible magnificence the pillared chambers which were their favourite form of architecture. Nothing in the world can surpass for rich-. ness and delicacy of detail the marble columns and ceilings of the Mount Abu temples and it would be easy to fill a large volume with illustrations of more or less similar exquisite work in many localities.110
Along with architecture and sculpture, the Jainas have contributed in a large measure to the development of the art of painting in India. The tradition of Jaina painting is as old as Buddhist painting and innumerable Jaina paintings of exquisite quality could be found on walls, palm-leaves, paper, clotb, wood etc. 111 The Jainas possess a very extensive treasure of manuscript paintings drawn in the Early Western Indian Style, sometimes called Gujarat' style or specifically " Jain 'style.112
As Jainism is an original system, quite distinct and independent from all others, the Jainas bave developed a separate philosophy which is regarded as a valuable contribution to the Indian philosophy.113 In philosophy the Jainas occupy a distinct position between the Brahmanic and Buddhist philosophical systems. This
