Some Jaina Metal Images From Unpublished Ghogha Hoard

Author(s): Lalit Kumar
Publisher: Z_Nirgrantha_1_022701.pdf and Nirgrantha_2_022702.pdf and Nirgrantha_3_022703.pdf

Page 5

Lalit Kumar
Nirgrantha
seen inlaid with silver. He is flanked on either side by a male camara-bearer standing on a lotus and on the pedestal a Yakṣa and a donor-male, a Yakși and the donor-female on his right and left respectively. Architecturally conceived backplate has upright pillars supporting a crossbar. The padmaprabhā is surmounted by a chatra with the jar-finial on top. It is flanked by a drummer and a vidyādhara on either side. Nine planets are represented in a group on the pedestal.
The inscription on its back reads :
सं. ८१ माघे वर्द्धमाने पितृव्य श्रे यो ]) श्रीसदेववइरोचनेन कारिता In Saṁvat 81 in the waxing half of the month Māgha, Śrī Sadevavairocana got made this image for the religious merits of his paternal uncle. The first two digits of the year are perhaps missing in the inscription. Stylistically, the image belongs to the 12th century; therefore, the actual year could be Samvat 1181. 6. Tritirthi of Sāntinātha
Bronze, western Indian, Gujarat Date : V. S. 1234 / A.D. 1177 16.0 X 9.8 x 5.5 cms.
Acc. No. Ghoghā 52 (Fig. 6) The nimbated Jina is seated on a cushion kept on a simhasana placed on a pedestal. The figure is defaced; it shows a śrivatsa mark inlaid with silver. A deer, the cognizance of the Jina, is represented on the pedestal between two groups of nine planets, five on the left side and four on the right side. The mülanayaka is flanked by a Jina standing under a triple umbrella with foliage on either side. The Yaksa Garuda and the Yaksi Nirväni are seated near the simhāsana on the left and the right side. There is no backplate of the image. A semicircular arch surmounted by a kalaśa with stylised flames on the border accommodates a circular halo, a triple umbrella with foliage, and kalasa on the top. This constitutes the parikara which is raised on a crossbar supported by two upright thin posts erected on the pedestal.
The inscription on the reverse reads:
सं. १२३४ माघ वद.....श्री शांतिबिंबं कारितं प्रतिष्ठितं श्रीधर्मसूरिशिष्यैः श्रीरामचंदैः। In the dark half of the month Magha in Samvat 1234, the image of Śrī śāntinātha was made (and) installed by Sri Ramacandra, the disciple of Sri Dharmasuri. 7. Seated Pārsvanātha
Bronze, western Indian, Gujarat Date : V. S. 1258 / A. D. 1201 17.5 x 11.8 x 7.5 cms.
Acc. No. Ghoghā 12. (Not illustrated) Pārsvanātha seated in dhyana on a cushion is placed on a simhasana covered with