________________
Jaina Íconography of Orissa
233
given more prominence. In all her seated figures either alone or with the Yakşa, she is shown in lalita pose but the standing ones invariably display a tribhanga pose. The pedestals on which she is seated or standing are either plain or arranged with lotus petals. Her mount the lion is usually placed below the pedestal. In exceptional case like the Ambikā image of Brahmeśvara pacana (now preserved in the Dhenkanal branch Museum) the lion is found to the left of the pedestal. The mango tree, the other conventional feature of this Sasanadevi is shown in the background in all cases. Her Tirthankara is placed over this tree in yogásana pose in most cases. The two Ambikā figures of Badasai, however, do not contain the Tirthankara at the top. The two Sāsanadevī images bearing No. D.M. 5 and D.M. 20 of B. Singpur, the one of Kachela, Brahmesvarpatana and cave No. 10 of Khandagiri hill are shown standing in captivating tribhanga pose over pedestals.
The Tīrthankara figures on the top are depicted with the mark of cognizance, chauri bearers, flying figures with garlands, halo and the kevala tree. The mark of cognizance in most cases is an eight petalled lotus or a disc. The Ambikā figures of BārabhujiGumphā, Podasingidi and Kachela display prominent prabhāmandalas behind head in addition. The pedestal of one of the seated images of Badasai is supported by tapering pillars. The well designed torana behind the figure of Kachela is also supported by decorative pillars. Devotees seated in folded hands and various types of offerings are noticed below the pedestal of the figures of Balighat, Jambhira, Podasingidi and Kachela. At times attendant figures are carved along side this Sāsanadevi. The two female attendants in case of one of the figures of Podasingidi are shown displaying fly-whisks in their hands.
The two handed figures of this Sāsanadevī are invariably shown with a baby on the left lap and a bunch of mangoes or a mango twig in the right. One of her figures of Podasingidi is however, depicted with varada mudrā in right hand. At times one or two small babies are shown plucking mangoes held in her right hand.
The four armed image of Badasai is depicted with hands showing Varada mudra, bunch of mangoes or its twig and one kept on the thigh. Similarly the other four armed figure of Barudi is found displaying a bunch of mangoes, varada mudrā and conical objects.
Ambikā figures seated with Yaksa Gomedha on a common slab are also found in places like Podasingidi, Thunigaon, Ayodhya, Lataharana, B. Singpur, and Khandagiri hill. Except in one case of B. Singpur, the Sāsanadevi is invariably shown seated to the left of Gomedha in lalitäsana pose. She displays the bunch of mangoes or the mango twig in right hand and holds the baby on the left. The mango tree is depicted behind the two figures. At times they represent the votive figure of Neminātha seated in yogasana pose at the top of the tree. A peculiar feature of some of these representations is that a baby is shown swinging on the tree from which it branches off. Some of the prominent pratihāryas along side of the Tirthankara Neminātha and devotees in kneeling position are also depicted with these figures. The Ambika figure on the common
