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Jaina Monuments of Orissa
Some years back three Jaina images reported to have been recovered from a place near the present Dhākulei Thākurāņi of village Pratapanagari on the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar portion of the National Highway. For the present two of them, the figure of Pārsvanātha and Rşabhanātha (Fig. 78), are kept in a thatched shed of the Ramjimatha under the custody of one Madhavadāsa. The third image of the place i.e. Rşabhanātha is no more available in the site. A photograph of the image is under display in the Jaina temple of Choudhuri Bazar of Cuttack town to which we have made references
earlier.
The image of Pārsvanātha (Fig. 78) of the place is carved standing on a lotus pedestal in kayotsarga pose. The pedestal is supported by lions in its front side along with Näga devotees in añjali hasta and heaps of cfferings. A canopy of seven hooded snake found above head. Coils of the snake are gathered behind the figure. The two chauri bearers are standing on the sides of the Tirtharkara. The image is designed within a torana attached with makara heads from the mouths of which series of jewelled chains are falling. A circular halo (prabhāmandala) is seen behind the head. Trilinear 'umbrella, and the kevala tree over head are flanked by flying figures with garlands in hands and cymbals played in palms. It measures 0.78m x 0.37m.
The figure of Rşabhanātha (Fig. 78) of the place measuring 0.63m x 0.31 m is also carved standing in kāyotsarga pose on a double petalled lotus pedestal below which its lañchana, the bull is visible in front of a kneeling devotee in añjali hasta. The chauri bearers i.e. Bharata and Bahuvali are standing on either sides just above the pedestal over whom all the twenty-four Tirthankara figures are depicted in standing pose in pairs. Hairs on the head of the figure are arranged in jatā, a few strands of which are seen falling on its broad shoulders, an evident characteristic of all the Rşabhanātha images. The trilinear umbrella surmounted by the kevala tree is depicted over-head. The Tirthankara is flanked by flying Gandharvas holding garlands in hands and invisible Vidyadharas playing cymbals in their palms on either sides at the top. These two figures are kept in a very neglected state in the matha. The smoke emerging from the burning charcoal gradually discolours the images. Prof. P. Pradhan once informed me that he too had collected a small Jaina Tirthankara image from the village. But it is not available with him at present for verification.
The Dhakulei Thakurāņi shrine at Pratapanagari also preserves a few Jaina relics within its open Jagamohana and the sanctum of which the first is the figure of Ambikā. It is kept in the sanctum. Ambikā is carved seated in lalita pose on a pedestal below the mango tree. She held the baby on the left lap and displays a mango in the right. Her vehicle the lion is caved below the pedestal. Her Tirthankara Neminātha is found seated on the top of the tree. The second figure of this place is an image of Rşabhanātha kept near the door jamb. It stands in kayotsarga pose on a plain pedestal and damaged into two pieces. The hairs on his head are arranged in jatā, a few strands of which are falling on the shoulders. The two chámaradharis flank the figure on either sides. Other features including the kevala tree, lañchana, umbrella and flying figures are not traceable. It measures 40cm x 20cm. The third Jaina relic depict the figures of Yakşa Gomedha and
