Jaina Tirthas in India and Their Architecture

Author(s): Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab

Page 38

AND THEIR ARCHITECTURE
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goddess Ambikā, kept in the Jain temple of Suvidhinātha at Prabhāsapātan. It is illustrated here for the use of the students of Jain Iconography. On its back there is an inscription which reads:
Samvat 1506 varshe Vaisakha-Suda 6 Sukre Osavala-inativa Shatvake-gotre Sa. Nakar bha. gangi Şandadana Ambikainurti kara pitam!
Figure 78:-A standing metal Kāyotsarga image. An artistically fashioned metal parikara is kept in a dark cell in the circumnabulatory passage round the Sri Neminatha temple on the Girnār Hill. It contains two Kayotsarga figures one of which is reproduced here for the benefit of he readers. The parikara bears an inscription which reads:
Samvata (t) 1523 varshe Vaisakha Sudi 13 gurau Sri-Vriddha Tapagachchhe Sri-Gachchana yaka-Bhatt. Sri Ratnsimhasurinam tatha Bhattaraka Udayavallabhasurinam chal upadesena Tha. Sri Sana Sa. Bhava-pramukha Sri-Samghena Sri-vimalanatha parikara karitah pratishthita ....... Sri-Jnanasagarasuribhihil
Plate 38 Figure 79:-SANMUKHA-YAKSHA from Girnär. This is found in the right lower part of the parikara mentioned above.
Figure 80 :-VIJAYA-YAKSHINI. Image of Vijayā 'the Yakshini of Vimalanatha, the thirteenth Tirthankara, carved on the lower left part of the same parikara.
It is difficult to understand why such a unique piece of art has been placed in a dark cell where no lover of art can possibly see it, by the trustees of the Inandji Kalyanji Pedhi. It would not have been possible to take photographs of these sculpures without the complete cooperation of the Manager of the Pedhi at Junagadh, Mr. Sankalchandabhai. I hereby bring to the notice of the said trustees to arrange to place it in a prominent place where lover of art and art critics can easily see it.
Plate 39 Figure 81 :-PARSVA YAKSHA from the main Jaina shrine as Navalakhā Pārsvanātha, at port Diu, a Portuguese possession in Käthiāwād The deity is seated in the padmasana pose with the palms of the hands arranged one above the other in the lap. As can be seen clearly in the photo, a hooded snake is shown on shoulders. This image presents a new evidence in Jaina Iconograpy.
Figure 82-83 :-LAKSHMI. Both these metal images are in the