Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1

Author(s): Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 740

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MALA DEVI TEMPLE AT GYARASPUR : 265
anklets. The right foot of the god is placed on a lotus flower which rests on a jar. He carries vajra in the left hand of which faint traces have survived, while his right hand is broken with the attribute.
Below niche XVI on the basement occurs a niche containing an image of a twelve-armed goddess seated in lalitāsana on a wheeled ironcart (lohäsana). Her right hands hold broken abhaya, triśūla, cakra and padma with a handle like stalk, while her left hands carry paraśu, sankcha, shield, bow, indistinct object which may be a toilet box, and fruit. The goddess wears a dhammilla-shaped head-dress with a mani on the simanta, kundalas, torque, wristlets, undergarment fastened by belt with jewelled loops and anklets. A seated devotee carrying offerings is depicted below the seat. From the lohāsana the goddess may be identified as Ajitā or Rohiņi, the yakși of the second Tirthankara.
In niche XVII, occurring below the north-eastern balcony, is represented a four-armed goddess seated in lalitäsana on a lotus. The head and hands are broken.
Niche XVIII or the last niche on the eastern end of the north face contains a four-armed goddess seated in lalităsana over a fish. She holds varada, abhaya, net and indistinct object. She may be identified with Kandarpā, the Svetāmbara Yakși of the fifteenth Tirthankara who is the only goddess represented in the Jaina pantheon with the fish mount.
East face :
Niche XIX on the north-east corner of each face of the jangha shows consort of Revanta seated in lalitāsana. She is four-armed and carries vajra, standard surmounted by human being the head of which is broken, net-like object and umbrella. A horse is depicted below the seat. A flying vidyādhara is shown over the head of the figure.
INTERIOR The entrance porch or the ardha-mandapa (Fig. 4) is supported on four pillars. The ceiling is rectangular with a lenticular compartment of cusped and coffered design of the sama-kşipta variety. There is a similar ceiling between the two inner or western pillars of the ardha-mandapa and the door-way of the mandapa.
Mandapa-doorway
The mandapa is entered through a large and elaborate doorway. It is of the pañcaśākhā variety, the säkhas containing respectively