Jin Parsva and His Temples in Inscriptions of Karnataka

Author(s): Hampa Nagrajaiha
Publisher: Z_Nirgrantha_1_022701.pdf and Nirgrantha_2_022702.pdf and Nirgrantha_3_022703.pdf

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Hampa Nagarajaiah
34. An 11th century inscription is engraved on the pedestal of the Jina-Parsva image, found in the cauvisa Tirthankara basadi at Koppala, is deposited in Salar Jung Museum. In the aureola of the main image of Jina-Parsva are represented 23 Tirthankaras in miniature. The two lower figures are the regular attendants, Dharanendra on the right and Padmavati on the left. There are two camaras, one on either side of Arhat Pārsva; above the regular seven-hooded canopy, there is also a triple umbrella. The image was a gift to the temple caused by Madana dandanayaka, by Boppana and his younger brother, sons of Malavve, wife of Emmeyaraprithi Gauda of Kopaṇa-tirtha, lay-disciples of Mandalācārya Maghanandi-Siddhāntācārya. In addition to this, from Koppala was also found a Pancatīrthi image of Arhat-Pärśva, of the 11th century, now deposited in the Salar-Jung museum [MAR 1916. p. 83; C. R., Krishnama Charlu, The Kannada Inscriptions of Kopbal, Hyderabad Archaeological series No. 12 (1935), Inscription No. 9, 11th cent. C. E.]
35.
35.1. Two more Pārsva images in the Calukyan style from Karnataka are in the Victoria and Albert museum, London. A Kannada inscription on the pedestal of the image, in 12th century characters, states that the image was made for the nagara Jinālaya at Yerambarge (Gulbarga.)
36.
Nirgrantha
An 11th century bronze image of Parsva (paryankāsana), with a Kannada inscription on the backside, is now in the British museum, London; it states that the image was made for the nagara-jinālaya at Yerambarge (Gulbarga Dt.; JRAS. 1915)
35.2. At the centre of Asian art and culture Avery Brundage collection in San Francisco, U. S. A., there is a beautiful 11th century Parsva image of about 5' in height, taken from Varuna, a village near Mysore, referred earlier in para No. 11.
Certain Parsva images/temples in Karnataka carry a special prefixed adjective such as Cenna-, Vijaya-, Candogra-, and Prasanna-; each such prefixation has an extra significance. Cenna is a Dravidian-Kannada word meaning 'handsome', 'pleasing'. Cenna-Pārśva means the handsome-Pārsva-deva. Basadis and the mūlanayaka images at Heragu [EC. V (BLR) Hn. 57], at Kogali [SII. IX-i. 346 and 347. 13 c. A. D.] at Heggere [EC. XII (BLR) CK. 21. 1160], at Bekka [EC. 11 (R) 535 and 536. A. D. 1250), at Adaki [Gogi, H: 1996 p. 465. A. D. 1125] and at Kaidāla [EC. XII (old) Tumkur 9. A. D. 1151] are Cenna-Pärśvas.
36.1. The prefix Vijaya- means victory, success; Vijaya-Pārśva means the victoriousPārsva; but it also denotes that Vijaya-Päriva brings victory in all endeavours. It is noteworthy that the Vijaya-Parsva temples were named so by the local kings. because they considered that their victory was due to the blessings of this god [EC. IX (R) Bl 390. 1254. p. 358; Ec. IV (R) Ch. 355; EC. III (R) 131. 12c.] Generally, a capital/royal seat is indicated by an expression with Vijaya-as a prefix; Vijaya-Vaijayantam (IA. VI. p. 24), Vijaya-Tambrä-pasthānāt (EI. XV,