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Jaina Monuments of Orissa
The Jaina Purānas, in Sanskrit, Prākrit, Apabhrassa, etc. are another rich source for a study of Jaina iconography. Again Strota works, and incidentally some story books also supply further information. Sipa works like the Aparajita procha, the Devatāmurti-Prakaraņa, the Rupamandana and Vastu-sāra of Thakura peru, besides earlier works, like the Mānasāra, are other very important sources for the study of Jaina iconography.
In the light of the above background we now discuss the iconography of the Tirthankaras, Sāsanadevis and other Jaina divinities as found in Orissa.
TIRTHANKARA
1. Rşabhanātha
Of all the Tirthankara images, Rşabhanātha appears to be widely popular in Orissa. Figures of Rşabhanātha are represented with sculptures, found in the Baripada Museum, Khiching Museum, Jeypore Museum, Balasore Museum, Orissa State Museum and places like Bagalpur, Chadheibar, Khandagiri, Nibharana, Brahmesvar patna of Puri district, Suai, Jeypore and Kachela of Koraput district, Dolamundai and Jaina temple of Cuttack Town, Pratapanagari, Adasapur and Jajpur of Cuttack district, Podasingidi of Keonjhar district, and Charampa of Balasore district. The findings of Jaina Tirth ankara images of Rşabhanātha in all these places are mostly represented either standing in käyotsarga pose or sitting in meditative attitude on single or double petalled lotus pedestals. The Rşabha figures of Suai, Kachela and few other places of Koraput district are, however, designed on plain pedestals. The pedestals in most cases are supported by spirited lions facing the front at the corners or seated back to back. Bull as lāñchana of the Tirthankara is invariably represented at the centre of the pedestal in a couching position. The Adinātha image of Hatadiha (Fig. 77) in Jajpur area does not show any lañchana below the pedestal. The other aspect of recognising this Tirthankara is the representation of ja tābhāra above head, a few strands of which invariably seen falling on the broad shoulders. In the earlier phase, when the lāñchanas were not associated with the Tirthankaras, this falling lock of hairs on the shoulders was only evidence of differentiating this Tirthankara from others. The inscribed seated Rşabha image from Podasin gidi (now kept in the Orissa State Museum) is however an exception. In this figure, instead of the jata-bhāra above head and the falling locks on the shoulder, we find the hairs on his head are arranged in spiral locks with a bulging at the centre like all other Tirthankara figures. The pedestals, in addition to the lāñchana, are represented with a series of kneeling devotees in añjali hasta. Large number of offerings in shape of conical objects and kept on separated miniature pedestals are found depicted. In the Rşabha figures of Suai, Kachelā and a few other places of Koraput district, the figures of Yakşini, Chakreśvari seated on Garuda and Yakșa Gomukha seated or standing near by are also envisaged in front of the pedestal. Among the other aspects of the astapratiharyas, representation of the kevala tree (Nyāgrodha) spreading leaves on both the sides, trilinear umbrella, circular or eliptical halo behind head, flying figures with garlands in hands and cymbals or drums played by palms of invisible Gandharvas or conch-shells
