Jaina Rock Cut Caves In Western India Part 01

Author(s): Viraj Shah
Publisher: Agam Kala Prakashan

Page 86

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Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India bar, while in some cases another bar with makara heads at the ends is carved above the horizontal bar. Occasionally, the makaras have riders also. Beyond the vertical bars or the pilasters are vyals, standing on the hind legs and facing the opposite direction. There is a cushion on the throne back, shown behind the Jina figure.
The Jina figures in hall have chauri bearers standing behind the throne back and thus are shown either till the waist or the thighs. The chauri bearers in case of the shrine images stand on each side of the throne back and thus are shown fully. They have chauris kept on the shoulders and held in the outer hands. The inner hands are either dangling down, kept on the waist or rested on the throne bar. While all the icons have a single pair of chauri bearers, the shrine images of J19, J20, J24 and J26 have two pairs of chauri bearers. Among the other pratihāryas of the Jina parikara are flying celestial couples, garland bearers and musicians. The flying couples are usually shown in the cases of the shrine images. They are depicted above the chauri bearers and flanking the chhatra. Among the musicians are a drum player and a cymbal player, depicted on each side of the chhatra. In a number of cases, the human figures are absent and only the instruments are shown being played by the hands. When the Jinas are carved in a pair, there is a figure of either a garland bearer or any musician between the two chhatras. This figure is common to both the icons. However, in J21 the garland bearers are on each side of the chhatra and above the chhatra is a conch blower. The musicians in the shrine images are carved beyond the couples. However, these features are not found as a rule and there are some variations.
Since the lanchhana is not shown, the Jina figures cannot be identified. Only Rşabhanatha with hair on the shoulder and Parsvanātha with seven-hooded snake above the head can be identified.
While most Jina icons are shown without yakşa-yaksi, a few of the icons, especially those in J10, J14, J19, J2i and J25 are with a pair of yakşa-yaksi, shown flanking the throne.
Sarvānubhuti
Sarvānubhuti is depicted as a corpulent, two-armed figure seated on an elephant under a banyan tree (Plate 39). His āsana is vāmalalitāsana in J6, J13, J17, J18, J20 and J22, while in J10, J11, J13, J14, J21, J23, J24 and J26 it is savyālalitasana. In J19 and J21, he is seated in a sort of mahārajalilasana. The icon in J25 is destroyed. The dangling foot is usually kept on a pedestal. The tree is absent in J11, instead there are makara heads with the riders, female chauri bearers and the flying couple. Behind the head is shown a halo. The elephant is shown seated with the head turned to the front in some cases. In some cases Sarvanubhuti is shown seated on a thin cushion placed above the elephant. In some cases, a throne back is also shown. His hands are kept on the knees with a matulunga in the right hand and a long purse in the left hand.
The figures in J11, J13, J14, 121, 122 and 126 do not have any attendants, while the figures in J6, J10, J17, J18, J19, J20 and J23 have a male attendant on each side. The attendants in J19 are shown standing behind the throne back. In J10 and J20, both the attendants have a gada rested on the ground in front of them. In other cases, the male on the right has a mace, while the male on the left holds either a purse or a flower. There are