Jinamanjari 2000 04 No 21

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 64

Kanchinadone. Saint Lakshmisenadeva's foot-prints are noticed on a boulder near Siddharaguṇḍu, Phālkiguṇḍu at Koppaļa. In details of delineation of foot-prints certain variations may be noticed. Some are engraved just in outline; some appear to emerge from the rock bed since the surrounding part of foot-prints is scooped out; others are ornately set within a bloomed lotus (Fig.2). Certain foot-prints accommodate a four petaled flower on them (Fig. 1).
Nisidhi reliefs on rock-cliffs are found at places like Śravaṇabelgola, Koppala, Mulugunda, etc. where huge boulders abound. At times, a single rockcliff may provide surface for relief nisidhi records of one or more individuals. The boulder called Siddharaguṇḍu, located near akhaṇḍabāgilu on Doddabeṭṭa at Sravanablgola accommodates on it about half-a-dozen nisidhi memorials. In the upper part of the boulder are carved horizontal rows of saints who sit in a monotonous cross-legged posture (Settar, 1986, pl.xl). At the centre of the top row is the figure of a seated nude tirthankara on a throne, sheltered by triple-umbrellas and flanked on either side by a fly-whisk. Settar feels that the elaborate depiction is intended not only to commemorate saint Dharmabhūšaṇadēva but also to honor the whole monastic order of the mūlasangha and Balātkāragaṇa. This is an unusual type from the point of view of nisidhi art.
The most interesting nisidhi relief on the Siddharagundu is at the right end of the lower half of the boulder. It depicts a seated figure of Bahubali, flanked by an aspirant and a saint who face towards Bahubali at the centre (Fig.3). The aspirant is nude and holds the aradhana-text in his left hand while the saint, whose crossed leg is held by a yogapaṭṭa, has his right hand raised in the gesture of praise. Bahubali is sheltered by chhatratraya and flanked by fly-whisks. Above the relief the sun and the moon are engraved. This is the only known example in the whole galaxy of nisidhi memorials to show Bahubali in place of Jina Tirthankara. It is the nisidhi of some saint whose name is obliterated. The deceased saint was obviously an ardent worshipper of Bahubali and the artist was apparently impressed by the overwhelming presence of the huge Gommata monolith on the summit of Doddabcṭṭa.
In nisidhi reliefs depiction of seated Jina-tirthankara is very frequent. However, a Jina under chhatratraya, standing in käyōtsarga posture on a padmapitha replaced the seated Jina in certain unusual cases. In fact, an example of this can be seen on the Siddharagundu itself. There are specimens of this type on Candramabaṇḍe at Koppala also (Fig.4).
An example of a two-tier relief depiction in nisidhi memorial is noticeable on the boulder portion between the Siddharaguṇḍu and the Bahubali temple at Śravaṇabelgola. Here, in the upper part is the relief of Jina-tirthankara seated under chhatratraya, and flanked on either side by a cauri-bearing attendant. Below this, in a separate panel, an aspirant couple is depicted being initiated by a saint. Between the couple and the saint is placed a thavaṇekōl (cross-legged stand to support the aradhana texts). The aspirants are seated in cross-legged posture with their hands in namaskaramndra (gesture of salutation). They have their garments and ornaments. The saint-teacher, however, sits nude, cross-legged with yōgapaṭṭa, raising his right hand in the gesture of exposition. A piñchha-broom is by his side. Two-tiered nisidhi depiction are common particularly on memorial tablets.
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