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APRIL, 1983 1
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Rare Image of Caubisi of Adinathe ul Bhagalpur
The town of Bhagalpur, well known sacred place for the Jainus, lius a number of shrines dedicated to Bhagavan Vasupujya. It was the place where occured the puncakalyanus of Bhagavan Vasupujya. Due to this fact, Bhagavan Parsvanatha,' the twenty third Tirthankara and Bhagavan Mahavira, the last Tirthankara, paid their valuable visits here. A big temple complex 'was erected during the sixth century B. C. inside the ancient city of Campa (modern Campanagara, il suburb of Bhagalpur toivn). It was referred to in the acnient Jaina literature as PunnabhaddaYaksa Caiya. A number of ancient Jaina images were recovered from a tank (probably the ancient tank caused to be excavated by the order of queen Gaggara) at Campanagara. Majority of them are adoring the Sri Campapur Digambar Jain Siddhaksetra, Nathnagara. One of them, a caubist of Bhagavan Adinatha is, however, preserved in the Sri Digambara Jain Mandir, Jain Mandir Lane, Bhagalpur. This temple was constructed in the Vikram Samvat 1929 (1872 A.D.) by the efforts of local Jainas, just to provide boarding facilities to the Jaina pilgrims....
The caubill of Bhagavan Adinatha (Fig. 2) is carved out of black stone. It measures 16 x 10 centimctres. It is carved out in an almost rectangular piece of stone. The sculptural details are in four tiers. The upper most tier has the figure of Bhagavan Adinatha who is seated in the Sumpararka mudrā (cross legged position). His half opened eyes, elongated ears, and locks of luair hanging on slioulders denote this image as of Bhagavan Adinatha. He is flanked by two attendants, standing one on his either side. The Jina has triratha chatra over his head. They
are decorated with the atokadruma. The flying Vidyadharas holding "long flowery garlands in their respective hands are engraved just over
the head of Bhagavan Adinatha. He is scated on Kailasa, the seat prescribed for him in the filpa text. In the second tier from the top, seven figures of the Tirthankars have been carved out. They are all
'Roychoudhury, P.C., Bihar "District Gazetteer-Bhagalpur, Patna, 1982.
Sinha, A.K., Jaina Shrines in Bhagalpur (in the press) - Samawa yanga, p. 67,
Bharvari Surna, p. 2234. 'Law, B.C., Mohavira : His Life and Teachings, London, 1937, p. 32-33. .
Ammiparika Sutra, p. 101. (Suilana Ed.) "Patil, D.R., The Antiquarriun Rerwins in Bihur, Patna 1963. "Sinha., A.K., Eurly Juin Images from Bhagulpur (in the press) Rupamandana, verse 27.
