________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
in Northern and Eastern Gujarat, mainly from places along the Sabarmati River and also from those along the Mahi and the Orsang rivers. Further, it contains a large collection of finds from Harappa and Mohanjodaro. In addition, there is pottery of various types, vessels, toys, scals with inscriptions, idols of mother goddesses, bangles, ornaments etc., the priest king, stray stone implements and pottery from Gujaranwala and Baroda districts.
Archaeological Section
The Archacological section contains a large number of important stone sculptures, bronzes, and woodwork. This section has been recently reorganized on modern lines.
A large set of beautiful Gupta and post-Gupta images of schist stone from Roda, Shamalaji and other places of the old Idar State areas of the Sabarkantha district in Gujarat, forms the highlight of this section and represents a rare find of Gupta sculptures in Gujarat. Of these, mention may be made of a beautiful image of Siva, Chamunda. Ganesa, Matrikä images and interesting dwarfish figures revealing Hellenistic influence. The beautiful Siva with his big trident stands in a graceful sublime tribhanga pose against the back of his Nandi-vähana. This is one of the very fine specimens of Gupta art of carly 5th century A.D. However, the bulk of the sculptures belong to the medieval period, and is collected from various places in Gujarat, promient among these are a set of beautiful Matrikās from Banaskantha district, a Trimurti image from Rajpipla etc. There are, besides, interesting sculptures representing the Chalukya. Rāṣṭrakūta. Parmara and Pratihära styles, a number of Jain marble figures and architectural pieces; some rare picces representing the early Scythian, Kshatrapa, Gupta and Andhara styles and small sculptures from Mathura, Buddhist and Hindu images representing Pala and Sena art from Kirkihar, Balraur and relievos and stuccos from Gandhara. There are a few Stellas, warrior memorials etc. An outstanding 5th century image of Śiva-Parvati from North Gujarat, Bhairava from Ladol, Vishnu from Bengal and another from Vijaynagara together with an image of a Tirthankar from South India, make a representative collection of the stone sculptures from different parts of India.
One of the exhibits, a hoard of beautiful Jain bronzes discovered at Akota, near Baroda, is particularly noteworthy as it proves the existence of a Western Indian Scuptural School in India. A large image of Rishabhadeva, and two images of Jivantswami belonging to the 5th century A.D. and a beautiful Chouric bearing attendant are some interesting examples. The Chamaradhāriņi (Chouri bearer) stands in a graceful tribhanga pose on a large lotus pedestal. The ornamentation is profuse. It is one of the best examples of Western Indian bronze sculptures. Of the other bronzes, a handle of a Roman Jug from Akota and a small plaque of the Satavahana period from Amaravati deserve special mention.
A large, complete Jain wooden mandapa is a fine example of the Gujarati woodwork of 16th-19th centuries. There are richly carved pieces from Broach, and a
પથિક - દીપોત્સવાંક - ઓક્ટો.-નવે.-ડિસે., ૨૦૦૧ ૨ ૪૦
For Private and Personal Use Only
