Book Title: Jaina Rock Cut Caves In Western India Part 01
Author(s): Viraj Shah
Publisher: Agam Kala Prakashan

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Page 176
________________ 150 Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India attendants and her vāhana is also not shown (Plate 100). Near her feet, on the floor is carved a channel to let the water out. 3. Seated Jina: 0.66m by 0.56m The figure, to the right of the main icon, is seated on a thin cushion kept on the plain pedestal, in padmāsana and dhyāna mudra. On the palm of the hand is made a round mark. The head is shown with dots, but usnişa is not present. He has trivali grivā and on the chest is shown flower like srivatsa. Behind the head is a round halo. The ears are long but do not touch the shoulders. Below each ear is a single lock of hair falling on the shoulders. 4. Seated Jina: 0.95m by 0.95m (excluding triple chhatra) It is the main icon in the centre of the back wall. It is a tritirthikā as the main icon is flanked by a standing Jina. The main figure is seated in padmāsana on a lotus carved on the plain pedestal. On the soles of the feet are round dots while on the palms of the hands, which are in dhyāna mudra, are circle with a dot in the centre. Like the earlier Jina, he also has head shown in dots, while the uşnişa is absent. He also has trivali grivā, while there is a trace of srivatsa on the chest. His ears touch the shoulders and he has a round halo behind the head. Behind the Jina is shown a throne back with pilasters and makaras. Above the head of the Jina hangs a mango tree with very short trunk and seven long leaves. On this tree is a large round plate above, which is a triple chhatra surmounted by a kalasa. All chhatras are the uniform size. The tree and the triple chhatra are carved in very high relief, overhanging above the head of the Jina. Among the attendants are chauri bearers and garland bearers, flanking the Jina. The chauri bearers are shown standing behind the throne back with chauri in the outer hand. Above each chauri bearer are two garland bearers, one above the other. All four are shown till waist, holding garlands in both the hands. Beyond each chauri bearer is a figure. The figure to the right is very unclear while that to the left is shown up to the chest. He has a single chhatra above his head and a snake in his left hand. Below these figures, is a lion standing on the hind legs on the head of an elephant on each side. The standing Jinas stand in a sort of a niche formed by pilaster of the throne back of the main Jina and another pilaster. Each figure measures around 0.58m by 0.23m and has a halo and long ears. The figure of a lion on the elephant described above is carved beyond the outer pilaster of the standing Jina (Plate 101). 5. Seated Jina: 0.64m by 0.47m This figure is identical to the icon no. 3. All these three Jinas are seated on a common plain throne with projections and recesses. There is a water channel on the throne, near the left Jina, that leads to a small pit cut on the floor nearby. The pit is around 0.15m deep and has diametre of 0.56m. The lock of hair falling on the shoulders of side Jinas would indicate that these are figures of Rşabhanātha as only Rsabhanātha, the first tirthankara and Bahubali are shown with hair on the shoulders. But it is unlikely that two Rsabhanathas would be carved flanking the main Jina. Thus, it is possible that these could be any other Jina. This trend of showing hair on the shoulders of all the Jinas is seen at some other sites too.

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