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

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Page 237
________________ Description and Chronology of Caves 211 5. Panchatirthikā: 0.6m by 0.39m. It has the main icon of a seated Jina flanked by a standing Jina and a smaller figure of seated Jina above. The mūlanāyaka is seated in padmāsana on the throne. There are no traces of a srivatsa. The face is damaged. There is a triple chhatra above the head. The throne has five compartments made by round pilasters. It has wheel in the central compartment and elephants and lions in the side compartments. 6. Chauvisi: 1.2m by 0.8m. Though the total number of tirthankaras in a chauvisi should be twenty-four, here twenty-six tirthankaras are depicted (Plate 147). The mülanayaka is Rsabhanatha, seated in padmasana on a throne, which is similar to that of the previous icon. While Jina's head is shown plain, he has hair falling on the shoulders. Above his head is a triple chhatra, surmounted by a kalasa. Flanking the Jina is a flying garland bearer, holding garland in both the hands and turned towards the Jina. The figure of Rşabhanātha is flanked by a standing Jina. Above these three Jinas, the rest of the Jinas are seated figures and are arranged in the shape of a śikhara of a temple. Flanking the chhatra of Rsabhanātha are three seated Jinas, on each side. Above are five horizontal rows of seated Jinas, each row of diminishing size. Thus, above the row of six Jinas, on each side of the chhatra, is the row of five Jinas. This row is surmounted by rows of four Jinas, three Jinas, two Jinas, and one Jina. The Jina on the top is Supārsvanatha as testified by a five-hooded snake above the head. Over the last Jinas of the lower row is a standing Jina, on each side. The one on the right is Parsvanatha as suggested by a seven-hooded snake above the head. Beyond the Jinas, is the figure of a yakşa to the right and a yakşi to the left. The yakşa is a corpulent figure of Sarvānubhūti, seated in Vāmalalitasana on a plain seat. Both his hands are on the knees, but the objects in the hands are not clear. The yakşi is seated in vāmalalitasana on a plain seat. Both her hands are raised up to the shoulders. The objects in the hands are not clear, but seem to be chakras. She appears to be yakşi Chakresvari. 7. Ambika: 1.66m by 0.86m. The figure of Ambika is seated in vamalalitasana on a cushion kept on her vāhana, lion. She is two-armed, holding amralumbi in the right hand and the left hand kept on the leg. She has an oval-shaped halo behind her head. The figure is fully decked. There is a mango-tree overhanging her head. On the tree are carved two birds and two monkeys. Her vahana, lion is shown roaring with distinctly visible teeth. The child of Ambika is shown to her right, standing with the right hand hanging down and left hand raised up. To her left stand the figure of Brahmana with a chhatra held in his right hand. Under the mango tree, there is a small figure of a seated Jina. The icon is placed above a moulded base with a triangular plate. The icon has now been painted. 8. Sarasvati: 1.04m by 0.43m. The figure of Sarasvati, measuring 0.8m by 0.38m, stands in tribhanga. She is fourarmed, holding probably a flower in the upper right hand, a book in the upper left hand, a fruit in the lower left hand and an aksamala in the lower right hand. The figure is fully decked (Fig.68b).

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