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126
Jaina Monuments of Orissa
anklets and head ornaments are the other items to decorate her body. The flying Gandharvas, chauri bearers, and the male and female attendants too, are provided with decorative ornaments. The slab containing the figures and the pedestal measures 1m x 0.53m and preserved in good condition. G. Ramadas identifies this image with Hariti of Buddhist pantheon.
6. Gomedha and Ambikā (Fig. 120)
The last Jaina relic of the place is a stone slab depicting seated figures of Yakşa Gomedha and Yakşiņi Ambikā under a tree on a common decorative pedestal. Both of them are provided with thick cushions. Ambikā displays a fruit (mango) in her right hand and left holds a baby. Gomedha, on the other hand resting his left hand on the left thigh, holds an indistinct object in his right hand. Both of them are decked with rich costumes and ornaments. The decorative halo behind Ambikā is in circular form while that of Gomedha in eliptical design. A baby is noticed swinging in between the two figures. Above the tree their Tirthankara is carved in yogāsana pose with usual attributes of chauri bearers, umbrella, kevala tree and flying figures with garlands. Below the common pedestal is seen a two handed female figure in lalitāsana pose on a pedestal flanked by a series of eight devotees with offerings. The female figures in the centre may be the Sasanadevi of Neminātha. A similar Jaina relic is also available in the temple, on the crest of Khandagiri hill. The slab depicting the figures measures 0.53m x 0.28m and preserved in Good condition.
An image of Mahāvira is found embedded to the wall of the Bhairava temple located at the foot of Bhairava hill near village Boriguma of Koraput district. This is a stray find at the place. Extensive ruins of brick structures and a series of silted ancient tanks are found in the neighbourhood. The image in question measures 0.68m x 0.41m and is in sand stone of yellowish colour. It is seated in yogasana pose on a lotus pedestal supported by rampart lions. Lion, the lāñchana of the Tirthankara is traced below the pedestal along with devotees in kneeling position and añjali hasta. The astagrahas are carved in a row in front of the lotus pedestal, a rare style, under whom Sidhayika, the Śāsanadevi of Mahavira is sitting with lotus in one hand and varada mudrā on the other. Of the two chauri bearers, the one standing to the right displays champak flower in its left hand. The kevala tree, sacred umbrella in folds, circular decorative halo, flying Gandharvas with garlands, elephants an.1 drum played through hands are the other most notable features of the Tirthankara. Hairs on the head are arranged in curled knots. Left arm of the image is partially damaged.
Another fragmentary stone piece depicting the upper parts of Gomedha Yakșa and Ambika Yakșini is also found to have been loosely kept in one of the niches of the southern wall of the shrine. The evidence of the tree is found on the slab.
As reported earlier, the Brahmanical shrines at Jeypore preserve in them relics of the Jaina pantheon. The Bhagavati temple built in the early part of the present century has taken the lead in this aspect. It is a modern shrine built of masonry works
