Jaina Sculptures in Bharata Kala Bhavan

Author(s): Kamalgiri
Publisher: Z_Aspect_of_Jainology_Part_2_Pundit_Bechardas_Doshi_012016.pdf

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Jain Sculptures in Bharat Kala Bhavan 95 but identifiable with Rsabhanatha on the strength of a bull carved over the head of the Jina. The niche on third side is occupied by two-armed Ambika, the Yaksi of Neminatha. The Ambika in concurrence with Digambara tradition possesses two hands and rides a lion and holds a bunch of mangoes in her right hand while with the left she supports a child seated in the lap. Another figure, on the right and close by Ambika is perhaps the second son of Ambika. The branches of mango tree are also spread over the head of Ambika. The only remaining side shows in the centre two seated figures accompanied by several other figures all around. The upper portion, however, is damaged and the remaining figures are also much defaced. The central figure probably represents the parent of some Jina. Four tall figures standing nearby, probably represent some deities who are present here for celebrating an auspicious occasion (kalyanaka) related with the life of a Jina. Of the four, one figure with a child in her left lap is a female and represents some goddess. One of these remaining male figures, standing on an elephant is probably Indra who used to visit the earth on the occasion of the janma-abhiseka of every Jina. Above these figures were carved celestial figures with their one hand in abhaya-mudra, suggesting thus their divine status. The central scene may be related with the representation of the anointation of some Jina after birth whose figure is shown probably in the lap of the goddess, standing to the left of the parent of the Jina. Notes and References 1. Of the Jaina sculptures in the Museum, only a few has been published, first by U. P. Shah, "A Few Jaina Images in the Bharat Kala Bhavan, Varanasi", Chhavi : Golden Jubilee Volume (Ed. Anand Krishna), Varanasi, 1971; and next by M. N. P. Tiwari, Jaina Pratima Vijnana, Varanasi 1981, pp. 51, 52, 96, 109. 2. A few Kusana heads with seven-hooded snake canopy may be identified with Parsvanatha. 3. However, Ajita is here represented only in the Jaina caumukhi (Acc. No. 85). 4. The attributes here and elsewhere are reckoned clockwise starting from the lower right hand. 5. Tiwari, "A Note on the Identification of a Tirthankara Images at Bharat Kala Bhavan, Varanasi", Jaina Journal, Vol. VI, No. 1, July 1971, pp. 41-43. 6. Shah, p. 234; Tiwari, "An Unpublished Jaina Image in the Bharat Kala Bhayan, Varanasi", Visvesvaranand Indological Journal, Vol. VI, No. 3, Jan. 1972, pp. 122-23. 7. Tiwari, Jaina Pratima., p. 150,