Jinamanjari 2001 09 No 24

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

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The high polished sculptures (at Nos. 2 & 3) are removable from the pedestal. A small chakra figure on either side is carved on a small piece that joins the hanging delicate arm and the thigh of the Parsvanatha and Mahavira. These two sculptures produced by one school were collected by the Salar, Jung III, from his own Jagirdar, Kopbal (in Mysore State) Karnataka. The above two inscriptions have been translated into Telugu by me and the same has been published in the Journal, ITIHAS, by the A.P. State Archives, December 1996 (Vol. 1 & 2, page 139-140).
Prolaraju II (c. 1118 to 1158 AD.) was one the great Kakatiya kings who followed and patronised Jainism in the twelfth century. Some of the Kakatiya inscriptions in the Deccan are found in the Karnataka area in Kannada script. The style of the said sculptures are nearer to that of Kakatiya sculptures found in the various Telangana areas and border districts of Karnataka. While the Kaiyani and Vemulawada Chalukyas were also patronised and produced Jaina sculptures too. The Museum sculptures are said to be Kakatiya-style as they are suggestive of high polished ones like any other Kakatiya sculpture, the model of the surrounded circular ring, carving of small Jina figures on circular ring etc. Some say that these sculptures are of Chalukyan school. But it is doubtful that they had any influence of Chalukya style though the inscription incised on the sculpture is Kannada.
III. Sculpture of 12th Century C.E. (Gujarat)
The marvellous arch-shaped sculpture of the Jain prabhavali, received in 1971 on loan from the National Museum is carved in white marble (see plate 4.). There are seven wheels on top of the prabhavali. Below the wheels an umbrella is carved with about three-inch projection. In the middle an elephant with a rider, is seen lifting a man with its trunk on either side of umbrella. At the centre of the sculpture between the elephants, a man from musical troupe is seen holding something like a sannai in his hands. It depicts a religious procession, and at the bottom corners of the prabhavali two figures of Parsvanatha near an open mouthed makara on either side. They are carved beautifully in dhyanamudra with snake's hood on top. The main image under the umbrella, probably Parsvanatha, is unfortunately missing.
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