Mahavira and his Teaching

Author(s): C C Shah, Rishabhdas Ranka, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: Bhagwan Mahavir 2500th Nirvan Mahotsava Samiti

Page 390

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE ICONOGRAPHY
the pseudo-Planets Rahu and Ketu) also show a close affinity to the rṣi-type, and by coincidence the Grahas Sani (Saturn) as shown on many door-lintels in Madhya Deśa looks almost exactly like our Rși. Generally speaking, the Grahas appear either seated or standing. In the latter case we get the following "main divisions" when considering their postures:
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(i) All Grahas have straight legs.
(ii) All Grahas except Budha (Mercury) and Sani have straight legs.
(iii) All Grahas except Sani have straight legs.
An additional difference, due to the fact that Surya (Sun) was exempted from the stylistic trend towards the *tribhanga posture, can be neglected. In the case of division (iii) we get two subdivisions: either Sani's lameness (he is the slowest of all the planets known in antiquity) is represented in a fairly realistic manner (formula A) or his lameness is indicated by crossed legs which serve as an "ideogram" (formula B). Whatever the hairdress or head-dress of the Grahas, their hand-attributes often follow the description of our Rṣi: abhaya (akṣamālā rendered but rarely in a clear manner)/kamaṇḍalu. Now the formula B is quite common in the medieval art of Madhya Deśa. Also the Grahas (ignoring Surya) are hardly distinguished from one another in these cases, each one showing as a rule abhaya/kamandalu. Hence the similarity between the Rși and contemporary renderings of Sani. The reader will find a detailed study of the Navagrahas in an article by DEBALA MITRA1 which was also utilized by us for the above survey.
Numerous types have been derived from the original rși-type; again we observe crossed legs with types of entirely different character, although such legs seem to be particularly common in the case of attendant figures. However, both "families" (rsi-types, types with crossed legs) do not show much overlapping,
1. A Study of Some Graha-Images of India . . . (Journal of the Asiatic Society, Vol. 7, Calcutta 1965, pp. 13 foll.).