________________ 3 134 . . . JAIN JOURNAL depicted according to the silpa text. His lanchana the snake, is secas in the centre of the pedestal. The second image of Bhagavan Parsvanatha (fig. 5) is in bronze. It measures 10 x8 inches. Bhagavan Parsvanatha, is seated in the sumpar yurkasana. The lanchana of Bhagavan, the ser pent is clearly visible in the middle of the pedestal. Thc Jina is in yoga: mudra. A nine hooded serpent is canopied over his head. Generally, Bhagavan Parsvanatha is canopied by it seven hooded snake. The prio ticc of clcpicting the nine hooded snake is mentioned in the Gunadhara Sardillu Sutaka (Parsvunatha Nuvaphana Dhuruna). . The most important Jaina image enshrined in the Sri Parsvanatha Digambar Jain Mandir, Monghyr, is of Sasanadevi Padmavati, (Fig. Ol ..the Yaksini of Bhagavan Parsvanatha. . It is carved out in white marblo and measures 12x6 inches. According to an inscription inscribed og the pedestal of this icon, it was installed in the year Vikram Samvat 1548 (A.D. 1491). Goddess Padmavati is scated in samparyankasana upon a lotus pedestal. She is endowed with four hands. She is holding a goad (arkusa) in the upper right hand while a noose in upper left hand. She is seated in decp meditation. She is keeping a rosary in lower, left hand and thic kusa grass like object in lower right hand.o. She is bearing a long necklace and round kundalas. As she is associated with the nether regions or patalapuri. She is canopied by the serpent which is a symbol to her. According to the silpa texts, Bhagavan Parsvanatha is seated over the canopies of the serpent which headed Padmavati. Bhagavan Parsvanatha is seated in padmasana and canopied by a five hooded serpent. The figure of Padmavati under discussion is very ; important from archaeological point of view because it is singular specii men of its type on the basis of published materials. 1. From the above discussions, it has become clear that the town of Mon** ghyr is closely associated with Bhagavan Parsvanatha since early historic period. Further the discovery of a colossol torso of Bhagavan Parsvanatha from the heart of the town also strengthen this vicw. It belonged to the Pala period (circa 9th-10th century A.D.). The original temple dedica. : ted to Bhagavan Parsvanatha was destroyed several times but it always sprung like a blue lotus over the demolished onc. The present temple dedicated to Lord Parsvanatha is the latest, one in this respect. The author of this paper hopes to bring more matcriul relating to Jainism in Monghyr to light.. *Bloomfield, M., The Life and Stories of the Jaina Saviour Parsvanatha, Baltimore 1914, p. 20.Pratisthasarasangraha (MSS). .. . .: .
