Jinamanjari 2000 09 No 22

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

Page 52

The upper tier of the platform is covered by the relievos on all four sides, depicting celestials accompanied by their retinues.
Socio Religious Significance of Relievos
The mānastambha is erected in front of Jain temples and is an integral part of the complex. The height of the pillar is usually twelve times the size of the idol consecrated in the main altar.
The relievos on the lower tier of the platform of the mānastambha represent Jaina socio-religious culture. In the Jain tradition, the elephants are held in high esteem for the reason of their living style wherein they are pious despite their enormous strength and power and are totally vegetarian in their diet. The Jaina philosophical doctrine of non-violence; the functional mechanism of karma in force, the process of reincarnation and the final liberation being in place in the affairs of all and each individual living being are thus implicated in these elephant relievos. As such, elephants in Jain tradition are placed in position of strength and power, and as such they are referred as diggajas, a unique Jaina vocabulary, which stands for and symbolizes protection. In the relievos there are eight of them - astadiggajas, placed in eight positions protecting all the eight quarters of the mānastambha.
It is well known in Jaina panegyric system that each Tirthankara has five auspicious stages in life, from conception in the womb to the final liberation; and each stage is an auspicious event of the Tirthankaras. The relievos in the lower tier of the mānastambha depicts this panegyric theme - pancakalyānaka rites, which are well described in Jain texts.
According to the Mahāpūrāņa, the celestials are headed by Saudharmendra, the lord of all Indras, come down to earth to perform pancakalyānaka rites to the Tirthankaras. They move in procession accompanied by their retinues playing the musical instruments, singing and dancing. The Tiloyapannati gives a list of hundred Indras and among them, Saudharmendra with his Airavata insignia is the chief of them all.
The relievos at Humcha show only the dikpalakas - celestials of directions, moving in procession playing their musical instruments, singing, dancing and rejoicing over the auspicious events. According to Jaina tradition, there are ten dikpalakas, each presiding over a particular direction. Indra - East, Agni - Southeast, Yama - South, Nirriti - Southwest, Varuņa - West, Vāyu - Northwest, Kubera - North, Isaņa - Northeast.. The last two, Brahma and Nāga represent the upper and
45