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Architectural and Iconographic Trends
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to 12th-13th century CE, though the temple belongs to late 11th century. In the later medieval period, at Deogarh, in the Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh, lateral strands are found on the majority of the non-Rsabha images also. Thus, it would appear that the depiction of hair on the shoulders of all the Jina icons was a common practice during 11th-12th centuries in North Karnataka, Maharashtra and also in Central India.
Jina figures are shown either in ardhapadmasana as at Dharashiva, Pandu Lena, Ellora, Mangi-Tungi (lower caves) and the main icon at Patne or in padmasana as in the case of other icons at Patne, Chambhar, Anjaneri, Ankai-Tankai, Tringalwadi, Chandor, Bhamer, Mohida, Ellora J5-J32 and Mangi-Tungi (upper caves). The icons at Ambejogai are too disintegrated to make out anything.
Srivatsa, the auspicious sign on the chest of the Jinas, is absent at early sites such as Dharashiva, Ambejogai, Ellora, Mangi-Tungi lower caves and Pandu Lena, but starts appearing from Patne. In all the caves post-dating Patne the śrivatsa is present. The loose chaumukhas lying in Cave II at Dharashiva, belonging to the later date, also show śrivatsa on the chest of Jinas.
The tri, pañcha, sapta tirthika and chauvisi type of icons start appearing from Patne in late 10th century CE and becomes a popular feature in all the later caves.
The size of chauri-bearers appears to diminish in later periods. In early caves at Dharashiva and Ambejogai, the chauri-bearers are large figures, covering the entire height of the shrine, much in the style in vogue, evident in their Buddhist counterparts. At Ellora, the shrine icons have large chauri-bearers, while those attending upon the icons in the halls are smaller, though still of considerable size. But after Ellora, these attendants are small figures, standing on sides or sometimes, shown above the shoulders of Jina and are almost insignificant. The reason, apparently is the increasing focus on the Jina icons as the complete energy and attention is concentrated only on Jina with other paraphernalia, though added profusely, receding in background as minute details.
Ambika
Ambika is the most popular yakṣi, present in almost all the later caves, except at Bhamer and Tringalwadi. At Vase, a mutilated loose sculpture of Ambika is lying in the cave. All the figures are shown seated in savya or vamalalitasana on her vahana, lion under a mango-tree and are two-armed. Only the icon at Mohida does not show lion. In the right hand is held an amralumbi, with the only exception of J18 and J25 at Ellora, where she holds a flower in the right hand. In the left hand is held a child seated on the lap in some cases or a matulunga in the other cases. In some icons a second child is shown standing near her. The icon on the Tungi peak does not show any child or attribute. The parikara varies, with few or more attendants, but Ellora examples are most elaborate. In some cases, the female chauri bearers and a male attendant are shown. At Patne and Mohida, however, no attendant is depicted.
Another figure invariably found in all the panels is a male figure holding a chhatra above his head. This figure is usually shown wearing a very plain antariya, in the form of just a cloth, which is quite short in a few cases and an uttariya in some cases. In most examples, he has a beard and moustache. The head is shown either plain or with hair tied in a bun behind the head. The ornaments on the body are minimum, just a necklace and
