Jainism in Rajasthan

Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

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present they are deposited in an underground vault of the Chintamani temple at Bikaner. Among these idols, there are a number of masterpieces in bronze, copper and brass. Some are of the ninth century while others belong to the period from eleventh to the fifteenth century AD.
There are eleven big metal images weighing about 1440 or 1444 maunds in the Jaina temple of Chaumukhaji at Achalagarh near Abu. Each among these images weighs about 140 or 144 maunds. These images were brought from Dungarpur and installed at this place in v.s 1566. The metal images with such a huge weight are not generally found anywhere.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF METAL IMAGES: In comparison with stone images, it is easy to devise varieties in metal images. The types of metal images are many; and the principal varieties are (1) Single image both in Padmasana and Khadgāsana (ekal), (2) two images (dvitirthi), (3) three images (Tritirthi), (4) five images (Pañchatirthi), (5) twenty four images of the Tirthankaras (Chaubīsī); (6) Nandiśvaradvipa, (7) Siddhapratimā, (8) Bāvanachaityalayapratimā, Ashtakamalākāra-pratima etc. In the Chaubisi, the main image of Tirthankara is found in the centre while the remaining Tirthankaras are found around him Such a beautiful metal image of Chaubisi is found in the temple of Chaudharis at Jaipur. The elephants are pouring water over the main figure of the Tirthankara and below, the apsaras are dancing. The effigies of Navagribas are also shown. There is an image of Bavanachaityalayapratima of 1608 AD. in the shape of a plate in the Jaina temple of Lūņakaranaji Pandyā, at Jaipur In the centre of the plate is a Nandiśvaradvipa and in its four corners, a group of thirteen images in Padmasana is displayed. WORSHIP OF YANTRAS: Jainas also used to worship the yantras made of copper and brass. Some are square but most of them are circular. Both big and small yantras are used. The inscription is inscribed round the yantra. The installation of yantras from the thirteenth century onwards is known both from inscriptions as well as from the literary evidence. Even earlier than that, they might have been in vogue as known from the pratishthapatha of Jayasenacharya which is said to be of the tenth century A.D. STONE IMAGES: In a period between the eighth and the thirteenth century A.D., big and excellent Jaina images of stone were made. Their design and execution are perfect. The facial expressions, the graceful poses and the various moods are chiselled in an exquisite manner. And no wonder,
IV. JAINA ART