Mahavira and his Teaching

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

Page 449

JINÁ IMAGES IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, KHAJURĀ HO 421
a mongoose-skin purse. The yakșa appears to be Sarvānubhūti, the most favoured yaksa at Khajuraho. Above these figures there occurs, on either side, a standing Jina, slightly smaller in size than the middle Jina, shaded by a canopy of five hooded serpent, all its top hoods being damaged. These flanking Jinas standing as naked on brackets have their hair disposed in curls with uşnīşa-s. Hoods being five, both the Jinas may be identified as Supārsvanātha. Such representations of flanking Jinas also occur in pretty good number at Khajurāho. Beside these Jinas, at each edge, appears a female-figure, wearing the usual jewellery and dhammilla, carrying as she does a fly-whisk turned downwards, the other hand resting on thigh. These female figures are meant to represent the attendants of the flanking Jinas. Further up on the top of the pilasters, framing the middle Jina, on each side is carved a seated Jina, sheltered in a miniature shrine with three successive tiers and throne-frame-animals. One of the two riders of each side is likewise holding a pitcher. Above the trichatra appears a much defaced figure of seated Jina, in a pillared miniature shrine with three successive spires. At each top back slab occurs a hovering figure engaged in playing flute.
Jina's hair is done in schematic curls with a top knot and the halo round the head comprises blossom circlet and prominent garland-like outer band. The image is datable to the latter half of the eleventh century.
Pārsvanātha, Seated:
(Acc. No. 1618, 52" X 31", Fig. 5)
Jina canopied by a seven hooded cobra, all hoods mutilated with its coils going down on the back side, is seated on serpent coils, though not so pronouncedly as generally noticed in majority of the Pārsvanātha images in Khajurāho and elsewhere. Representation of Pārsvanātha as seated or standing on the serpent coils with its seven hoods forming a canopy overhead is