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Jaina Monuments of Orissa
The figures of Yakşa Gomedha and Yakșini Ambikā (Fig. 99) are carved in a single piece of stone. They are seated on a double petalled lotus pedestal behind the mango tree. A number of kneeling devotees in añjali mudrā seen depicted in front of the pedestal. The female figure carries a baby on her left lap and Neminātha, the twenty-second Tirthankara appears in the yogāsana pose on the top of the tree.
The Pārsvanātha image (Fig. 100) kept outside is carved standing on a double petalled lotus pedestal in kāyotsarga pose. The canopy of a seven hooded snake covers the head of the Tirthankara. Chauri bearers and eight planets (astagrahas) are carved along its sides. The trilinear umbrella, kevala tree, heavenly music played through cymbals by the Gandharvas and flying figures are the other accessories of this deity. Front parts of snake hoods and face of the Tirthankara are partially damaged.
In addition to the above, a few sculptures of the Jaina pantheon are still found in private possession of the local people. Sri Hadibandhu Raj preserves four sculptures in his residence from which two appear to have link with Jaina religion. The one identified as Pārsvanātha (Fig. 101) the 23rd Tirthankara measures 0.70m X 0.40m x 0.10m and carved standing on a double petalled lotus pedestal in kāyotsarga pose. Devotees with offerings, chauri bearers, astagrahas, Nāga kanyās, flying Vidyādharis with garlands in hands, umbrella, canopy of a seven hooded snake and cymbals played in hands are the other features carved along with the figure.
The other statue in his possession may tentatively be identified with Ambikā in view of the fact that it is standing below a tree laden with leaves. It measures 0.60m x 0.30m x 0.10m and is severely damaged in the left hand. Gandharvas with musical instruments in hands, attendant figures, devotees and makara torana with ghata bases are the other notable aspects carved along with the figure.
Sri Bhagavata Behera, another villager, preserves in his residence an image of Mahāvīra, the 24th Tirthankara of the Jaina pantheon. He informs that the image was recovered from a tank in village Nuagaon a few years back and since then it is with him. It stands on a double petalled lotus pedestal in kāyotsarga pose. The pedestal is support.ed by two spirited lions. In addition, kneeling devotees with offerings in hands, chauri bearers, elephants, decorative arch, musicians with cymbals and drum in hand and trilinear umbrella are the other attributes carved along side the image.
In the premises of the Ayodhya High School, a number of fragmentary sculptures collected by the school children from time to time are heaped together. Among others they include the lower part of a Pārsvanātha figure and upper part of a Tirthankara.
Charampa, a place, a few miles from Bhadrak in Balasore district, also yielded a large number of Jaina antiquities of which four have been brought to the Orissa State Museum for preservaticn. The original site of discovery of these sculptures is located on the eastern bank of the Rahania tank also known as the Barala Pokhari. It is one of the biggest tanks of the area containing around twenty two acres of lands. The tank is now
