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Sculptural Arts
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in 4th-5th century A.D. characters which informs that a certain GunaNandi-achari consecrated this icon (fig-17). Thus, it becomes clear that this is the earliest metalic image of the Tirthankara, found, so far in Andhra. The modelling of torso and legs are graceful and wellproportioned. In the rendering of the head with beautifully carved curls and the ears with long ear-lobes, the Jina figure, Adinathasvami closely resembles the standing Buddha image. This find, disproves the theory that no bronze belonging to Pre-Chalukya period i.e., 6th century A.D. or earlier is known from Andhra. At present, it is displayed in the Government Museum, Guntur.
The State Museum, Hyderabad contains some Jaina bronzes obtained from Bapatla (Guntur district), Mediconda (Mahaboobnagar district) and Lingasoor of Raichur district (now in Karnataka). Among them, the Bapatla group was assigned by late Dr. N. Ramesan 5 to the 11th century A.D. But U.P. Shah refuted his dating 16 According to him the bronze image of a Tirthankara sitting on a pedestal or on throne should be assigned to the 6th-7th century as against the 11th century. According to him the festoons on the partly preserved pedestal belong to an early tradition (fig-18). This figure, according to him seems to belong to late Vishnukundin period. Therefore the standing Parsvanatha of Bapatla hoard is datable to 6th-7th century A.D. Sri C. Sivaramamurti also studied the Bapatla hoard.17 Another interesting figure, Yakshni Ambika in trithanga aspect, carved in the typical Chalukyan style of 8th-9th century A.D., stands on rectangular pedestal (fig-19). There is a two pillared prabhavali with seated Tirthankara above her head. It indeed is a master piece, adorned with foliage of the mango tree against the prabhavali on the top. The attendant and juvenile figures on either side present a natural and balanced appearance. Ambika herself was carved very attractively, as the central figure and all were thoughtfully and nicely executed. Further, a Tirthankara image, assignable to the 8th-9th century A.D., was carved more elaborately with a Yaksha and Yakshi on either side, Chauri-bearers behind the seat-rest, the sacred tree elaborately fashioned, the trippleumbrella and all other accessories carefully and aesthetically composed (fig-20). Further, a Jaina bronze, which contains a Yaksha and Yakshi
