Mahavira and his Teaching

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

Page 392

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE ICONOGRAPHY ... 381 Thus the iconographic programme of Vişņu-images is mostly different in character from the programme of Siva-images. The iconography of the Jina-images is characterised inter-alia by the presence of a smaller or greater number of miniature-Jinas surrounding the main Jina. Many of the remaining figures appearing on the images can be explained by reference to ancient descriptions of the preaching Jina as supplied by numerous works (Vyantarāḥ . . . pañcavarṇāni puspāņi sugandhíny akiramś ca te: the gods showered flowers on the earth). However, the figures covered by such descriptions are not necessarily a peculiarity of the Jina iconography. Instead of entering into a long discussion of the subsidiary figures in Jina iconography we shall try to classify them. It may be added that this classification in a way supplements (on a more abstract level) the exposition of the category “main divisions”. These are the classes:
(i) Miniature Jinas (tritīrthikās etc.). (ii) Functional or purely decorative figures (if found mainly
or exclusively in the iconography of the Jinas): cāmara-bearers, lions of the lion-throne, etc.
(iii) Functional or purely decorative figures (if not restric
ted to the iconography of the Jinas): *throne-frame
animals, hovering genii, etc. (iv) “Heraldic" figures. See below. (v) *Yakşa-and-Yakṣī. See Deogarh, pp. 25-26.
Class (iv) calls for a comment. The concept of "heraldic” figures was developed with regard to our Rși although this is by no means a very important instance. Also, the Rsi is not a subsidiary figure in the sense in which we employ this term. But in order to explain the term "heraldic" it was practical to submit a classification of the subsidiary figures as found in Jina iconography. It is easier to explain the meaning of the term "heraldic” in such a specific context than to isolate the relevant figures from the general pantheon of Indian iconography.