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More Sculptures from Bhagalpur
Aux KUMAK SINI
..limithuna Images
The Jaina art' in India has its own colour. While the gods and goddesses in the Hindu und Buddhist religion show supernatural things, the images of Jaina Tirthankaras are purely in the human form." They are neither polycephalic nor multihanded. But the sculptors of the Jaina images gave importance to the Jina's parents, a typical Indian feeling. A few images showing the figures of Jina's parents have come to light in the castern and central India. The author of this paper has made a survey of such images and studied them in iconographical perspective.
Let us examine first the general features of such Adimithuna or Yugalia sculptures. The foremost feature is the presence of a couple, either in standing or silling posture carrying children in their laps under a tree. They are surrounded by a number of children. Above the branches of tree, a lotus pedestal is placed, sometimes resting upon the Lions back. On the lotus seat, Jina is shown scated in deep meditation in padmasana mudra. The trilineur umbrellat over the Jina's head and a decorated halo behind are evidences of his godhood. His palms form the shape of a lotus-bud, an important yoga-mudra. Except the Jina all the persons carved out in the imagc, are decked with all sorts of ornaments.
One such image is adorning the British Museum, London. It is from Bihar. Next from Rajghat (Varanasi) is displayed in the Bharat Kala Bhavan, Benaras. Two such sculptures have been kept in the Museum of Varendra Research Society, Rajshahi (Bangladesh). In the National Museum, New Delhi we have one such bronze icon from
Shah, U.P., Studies in Juino Irl, Varanasi, 1955. . Bhattacharyya, 13. C., The Ju konography, New Delhi, 1974 (reprint), D. AIN. • Sharma, 13. N., Juin Prutinyen, New Delhi, 1979, p. 102. .
Arch, No. 212. (Bharat Kala Bhavan, Benaras) • Sharma, B. N., op. cit., p. 95-96. . Arch. No. 75.196. (National Museum, New Delhi)
