Jaina Monuments and Places First Class Importance

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

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JAINA MONUMENTS
Found in mound along with two more Jaina images (Nos. 2 and 3) of Tīrthanakaras at Kakatpur on the bank of the Práchi river, District Puri. The god is standing in Samabhanga and naked, on a padmāsana attached to a bhadrâsana in front of which reclines the bull, the cognizance of the first Tirthankara. "Two slots on the bhadrâsana and nails behind the figure suggest that there was once a prabhā attached to the figure which is now iniss ng. Hair on the head is arranged in a high jațămukuța with a central vertical band partitioning the jațās in symmetrical rows of jațās as in stone sculptures of Padmapāņi and Vajrapāņi of the 78th century A.D. from Kendrāpārā, Orissa (Chanda, Explorations in Orissa, pl. VI, figs. 1 and 3). Twisted locks of jațās, three on each side, overhang the shoulders giving to the whole (jațāmukuta and head) the appearance of a vimāna. The image inay date from 7-8th century A.D. like the Kendrāpārā sculptures referred above.
2. RISHABHADEVA: Height with pedestal 43" ; without pedestal 3". Standing naked on a padmāsana attached to a bhadrāsana which reveals a row of 8 siddhas seated and a couchant bull (the cognizance of this Tirthaikara) in front, Similar to No. 1 except that instead of the jațāmukuta there is a small ushnisha on the crown, the hair which has been cut closely showing only little curls as in the case of Buddha images. Datable like No. 1, Three letters in early Brähni have been engraved, unusually though on the back of the image. They read ga ya da. As the image is definitely a late specimen the letters must be forgeries.
8. TIRTHANKARA, PROBABLY RISHABHADEVA: Height with pedestal 31" ; without pedestal 3" : Similar to No. 2. but without bhadrâsana' or the lāñchhana. A similar forgery of letters