Jaina Monuments and Places First Class Importance

Author(s): T N Ramchandran
Publisher: Veer Shasan Sangh Calcutta

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JAINA ICONOGRAPHY
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whole system of the Jaina gods and goddesses appears to-day as an claborately constructed system, probably synchronizing mits origin with the period in Hindu iconography which witnessed a similar construction of a system ol gods in accordance with certain dogmas that were made to standardize the various icons, till then loosely and freely fashioned. More than this we cannot say as materials are lacking for a chronological study of the Jaina system of divinities. Much reliance cannot be placed on the Jaina tradition that the system of Jaina divinities was evolved iminediately after Mahāvīra, for if this were adınitted it would carry the gods and goddesses back to very early centuries before the birth of Christ. Even very orthodox Jainas who accept the above tradition, will hesitate to assign the various Brahmanical divinilies that have crept into their iconography to such a remole past, for they have undcubiedly been taken into the system as C. R. Jain says "to placate the Brahmanical hatred and win them over to protect the Jainas against bitter persecutions at the hands of their co-religionists (Hindus).” And so far as South India is concerned the need for protection appears to have arisen only about the seventh century A.D. The utmost that can be expected in the carly centuries of the Christian era is that there was then a pantheon of gods, not so bewilderingly big as is found now, but probably consisting of only a select few. The membership may even have been so circumscribed that only the 24 Tirtharkaras and some members of their families like Bahubali or Gommateśvara (Sravana Belgola) and Bharata, etc., were aclmitted. But as years rolled on a regular Jaina hierarchy of munis or sages and Achāryas or apostles came to be evoled. Very soon these came to be deified by their followers. Close on the heels of this visible apostle-worship came religious persecution. Both combined to elaborate for the modern Jaina the present iconography that he boldly and with legitimate pride presents to his erst while Hindu persecutor.