Jaina Rock Cut Caves In Western India Part 01

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

Page 90

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Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India tiithankara Rsabhanātha, Padmāvati, the yakşi of the twenty-third tirthankara, Parsvanatha and Sarasvati. A rare occurrence is of dancing Indra, depicted at Chhota Kailasa.
Chakresvari
There are only four depictions of Chakresvari at the site, of which three appear as independent goddesses, while only a small figure accompanying the intrusive icon of Rsabhanātha on the pillar in J10 is as yaksi. Of the other three, one is in Jl, another is in the shrine of Chhota Kailasa or J2 and one is in J20A. One of the goddesses on the façade of J4 may be Chakresvari. All the figures are seated in ardhapadmāsana and are on lotus in J2 and J20A or on her vähana, Garuda in Jl. The latter is the only case when the vahana is depicted (Plate 47). The icon in J20A and the small figure near the throne of Rsabhanatha in J10 are four-armed, with chakras in upper two hands. While the objects in the lower hands in J10 are not clear, the icon in J20A holds a vajra in the lower left, though the lower right hand is broken (Plate 48). The icon in J4 is also four-armed with lower left hand on the knee and probably chakras in the rest of the hands. The large icon on the sidewall of the shrine in J2 is six-armed with lower hands in varada-abhaya, padma-pasa in right hands and chakras in left hands. The icon in Jl is quite large and is twelve-armed, with sword, gada, chakra in two hands, sankha and padma in left hands, though the right hands, except the one holding a padma, are destroyed.
Sarasvati
There are five representations of Sarasvati, all as independent goddesses. One figure is on the facade of J4 along with other goddesses, one is on the facade of J12 with the corresponding figure of Ambikā, there are two figures flanking the shrine doorway of J13 and a figure in J18, near the door leading to J20A (Plates 49 & 50). While the figures in J4 and J12 are seated in svyālalitasana and padmāsana respectively and on lotus, those in J13 and J18 are standing in dvibhanga. The icon in J4 is seated on her vāhana, peacock, while in J12 two peacocks are shown above the arch. The other three figures do not have vahanas. All are four-armed with hands in varada, abhaya or holding flower, book, matulunga, pasa, flute and probably ghata. Of these, flower is the most distinguishing feature and occurs in almost all figures.
Padmāvati
Though Padmāvati, the yakși of twenty-third tirthankara, Parsvantha, is depicted in all the panels of the scene representing Kamatha's attack on Parsvanatha, she appears as an independent goddess in one occurrence. There is a small icon of Padmāvati in J18, near the door leading to J20A. One of the goddesses on the facade of J4 could be Padmavati. The figure is J18 is standing on lotus, while that in J4 is seated in ardhapadmāsana on lotus. The latter is four-armed with sarpa and paša in upper hands, though lower hands are mutilated, while the former is eight-armed holding flower, sword, ankusa, bana, akşamāla, dhanusa in the extant hands. The figure in J4 might have a snake-hood, while