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Śramaņa, Vol 58, No. 4/October-December 2007
figures from the Bāvā Pyārā are cruder and plainer in style than those in the Junagadh Museum. " Dhank Caves
Situated on a hill known as Dhankagiri (in the vicinity of Dhanka village in Upletā Tālukā of Rajkot District) these caves are 48 kms. north-west of Junagadh. In Jaina literature and Prabandhas this village of Dhanka has been many times referred.'* This hill is adorned with images. According to Burgess they are probably Bauddha. While Sankalia suggests that they are Jina images.' The reference to Dhankagiri as a Jaina Tīrtha in Jaina literature corroborates the view of Sankalia. Jina Images
On the western edge of this hill there are some caves. Of these the first one, which is located horizontally north-west, has an entrance only 1.5 meters high. Its inner portion is 0.75 metre lower than the outer level. In this cell there are three niches, of which one is facing the door and one on each side of it. All the niches have Jina images. The image facing the door is seated on a Simhāsana with hands in Yogamudrā and Cāmaradhāriņis on both the sides. Because of the absence of cognisance it is difficult to identify the image. But according to Sankalia it represents Jina Ādinātha. Burgess considers this as Buddha image, for reason that there is one step-well near the Dhankagiri known as Mañjuśrī Vāv, which is not acceptable. 20
Two other images on both the sides of this cell are seated in Padmāsana with body erect and motionless. Their hands are placed in Yogamudrā. Over the head of these images is carved a triple umbrella indicated by three strokes. On both sides of these images there are Cămaradhāriņis and Vidyādharas on the above. The Mrga cognisance in the middle of the seat helps identifying this image as sāntinātha, the sixteenth Thirthankara. On both the ends of the seat we find lion figures. The nicer image here is that of Pārsvanātha, the twenty-third Tīrtharkara. It stands in kāyotsarga posture with impressive canopy of cobra-hood behind the head. This is the only best preserved image
