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Jaina Monuments of Orissa
represented one each in the Navamunt-Gumphã (Fig. 35), Barabhuji-Gumpha and Mahavira-Gumphã (Fig. 40) of Khandagiri hill and village Narasimhapur of Jajpur area of Cuttack district. The image of Narasimhapur in kayotsarga pose on a plain pedestal is represented with his usual emblem, the crescent moon, the trilinear umbrella and flying figures with garlands in hands. The other features forming the astapratiharyas are conspicous in their absence. The three figures depicted in Khandagiri hill are all in yogasana having the crescent moon as the mark of cognizance below their respective pedestals. The image of Navamunt-Gumphã is devoid of other conventional features except perhaps, the lotus pedestal. Two chauri bearers, lotus pedestals supported by lions and the trilinear umbrella are the common attributes associated with the rest two figures of Khandagiri hill. The tree, Nagakefara associated with his kevala knowledge, cymbals played in hands of invisible Gandharvas, oval shaped halo and flying heavenly figures with garlands held in their hands are the other notable features of the image. found in Barabhuji-Gumphã. Similarly a trefoiled arch and decorative creepers running to either sides of the umbrella are added to the figure of Mahavira-Gumpha.
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Seated in samaparyañkāsana posture with both soles visible on the pericarp of a lotus, with a single row of petals, the robeless Chandraprabha (Acc. No. 254) with the broad chest and elongated ear lobes, exhibits the yogamudra with his right palm placed on the left against the abdomen.
The hair is gathered on the crown in a conical form. Depicted on the central petal of the front side of the lotus seat is the crescent moon, the cognizance of the Tirthankara. The solid oval halo with a beaded border is edged by tongues of flame at long intervals. At its crown is an ornate triangular piece.
The second bronze figure bearing Acc. No. 327 is standing in kayotsarga pose with long hanging arms and fingers lightly touching the lowest part of the thigh, on the pericarp of a lotus with a single row of hanging petals. The hair on his head has been. coiled and gathered on the crown. On the front side of the pedestal is the crescent
moon.
Literally, he was called Chandraprabha because he had the lustre (prabha) of that of the moon, besides, the fact that one of the dreams of his mother is about the moon.17 9. Suvidhinatha or Puspadanta (fig. 44)
The ninth Tirthankara in the series, Suvidhinatha or otherwise called Puspadanta has been carved within the group of Barabhuji-Gumpha and Mahavira-Gumphā (Fig.44), of Ahandagiri hill. In Mahavira-Gumph it occupies the fourteenth place instead of the conventional position of nine. Alligator as vehicle of the Tirthankara, two chartbearers, attendant devotees lotus pedestals suppc rted by lions, trilinear umbrella are the important common attributes found with both the images. Naga (or Malli), the tree
17. B.C. Bhattacharya, The Jaina Iconography, p. 69.
