Book Title: Jaina Tirthas in India and Their Architecture
Author(s): Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab

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Page 28
________________ 25 AND THEIR ARCHITECTURE ously chiselled. The pedestal is too damaged to allow the deciphering of a single letter of the inscription it bears. However its workmanship would assign the image to a period anterior to the 2nd centuary A.D. The lobes of the ears of this icon do not touch the shoulders as in the case of other images and would suggest that the image belonged perhaps to a period even anterior to Mahāvīra's time. Figure 17 :-A Jina image from the Kańkāli-țilā, Mathurā, seated in the Utthita-padmasana pose, with curly hair on the head which differentiates it from other images. The Srivatsa mark also is clearly visible on the chest. Hair is seen flowing on the shoulders down to the middle of the collarbone and helps us to identify the image as that of the first Tirthankara Rishabhadeva. Figure 18:-Fragmentary Jina image from the same locality as the images in Fig. 16 & 17. Its head is lost. Its identification has become very difficult as ancient images had no lanchhanas or emblems. Below its seat are to be seen indistinct Kharoşthi letters which defy decipherment. The pedestal is flanked by a pair of lions and in its middle is engraved a stūpa (?) in place of the Dharmachakra and on each sides of the stupa are four persons extolling it. This is an evidence of the existence of stupa worship among the Jainas of that period. Plate 8 Figure 19:-This skilfully wrought image also was secured from the Kankāli-țilā at Mathurā. The sculptor has carved the outline of a fine garment on the pedestal and has clearly shown that it belongs to the Svetambara sect of the Jainas. The delineation of the Prabhamandala or abhamandala behind the head of the image as also the lotus petals on the pedestal indicate that the image is of a Tirtharikara. The pedestal is flanked by very fine images of lions, and behind the lion on the left side, the sculptor has drawn the images of the lady who got the image fashioned. It can be assigned to about the lith century after Clirist. Plate 9 Figure 20 :-Şri Ajara-Parsvanatha. This Pārsvanātha image from the Jaina temple at Ajārā (Kāthiāwād) is, according to the Jaina tradition, very old. As it is covered, it is difficult to assess its workmenship. But the tirtha is situated in such a lonely but lovely place that one feels highly satisfied after visiting it even once. The author For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org Jain Education International

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