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The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
of various museums in India and abroad. The bronze image of Sarsvati at Pindwada - Rajasthan was brought from Vasant gadha along with a hoard of Jina images. The deity is standing on lotus holding the roll of manuscript with left arm and lotus with right. Her oblong nimbus is simple but crown is typical contain some representation may be the sun. Her lower garment is very thinly and neatly chiselled. The two water jars with coconut on top are placed on each side of the seat of the deity where she is standing. This is the best specimen of early Western Indian School. Another metal image of the same period is from Ākotā now in Baroda museum. She holds a roll of manuscript and lotus stalk in hands. The Ākoţā bronzes were established on the request by Kşamāśramaņa Jinabhadra. They are of transitional period between Gupta and early medieval. One metal image from Murtajāpur, now in central museum Nagpur has a carving of Jina above her head. She holds a roll of manuscript in left arm and pointed object in right. The goddess is sitting in lalitāsana on a lotus seat. The four and more armed variety of Sarsvatī image are available from 10th century onwards viz. - Vimalavasahi temple, Abu in 1031 A.D. having sixteen arms. Digambara Jain temple, Surat in 1167 A.D. having four arms. Umatā Visanagar Gujarat in 1180 A.D. with four arms. Bikaner Pallu now in National museum Delhi is of same period with four arms. An ancient Digambara temple at Lādanun also has a beautiful Sarasvati image with four arms of 11th century (fig. 104). In the same temple two more sculptures contain depiction of Sixteen Vidyādevī and a river goddess, that are also very beautiful; assigned to same period. These are very good examples of separate adoration of deity Sarasvatī. The power of deity is also concentrated in the yantras by ācāryas for providing benefits to adorants. Her painting on palm leaf or on wooden covering of manuscripts could be seen in many grantha bhandāras at Pātan, Amadāvād, Chāņi near Baroda etc. She is invoked to reduce knowledge obscuring Karma and to reduce all miseries. One Sarswati image established in rangamandapa at Keshariyaji is of medieval period (fig. 61).
