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18. Swastika:
Nayaka two icons of in Kausaggia i.e. in standing postures were shown. Then the Parikaras with five figures became more and more dominant and this has become conventional for the last hundreds of years. At present the same convention prevails. In some such arabesques even eight divine accompaniments are also shown. One icon with arabesques is known as Ek Tirtha. Three icons with arabesques known as Tri-Tirtha and five icons with arabesques are known as Panch-Tirtha. As Shri Adi Nathji, Shri Shanti Nathji Shri Nemi Nathji, Shri Parshwa Nathji and Shri Mahavira are the prominent Tirthankaras among the 24 as menioned in Kallana Kandam prayer. One of them is installed as the central figure in arabesques and the remaining four Tirthankaras are shown elsewhere in arabesques. STRIP NUMBER 17:In this strip the figures, at the podium of the throne of the arabesque are shown. At the centre of this strip ShantiDevi, the goddess of peace, or Adya-Shakti, the primeval goddess is shown. The elephant and the lion are shown on both the sides. Why these two animals are shown here is not quite clear. The lion is known for its ventures and the elephant is known for its strength. The figures are shown perhaps with a view to convey the inspiring message that one should take initiative for benevolent activities and should be strong enough to undertake philanthropic activities. Perhaps it brings the message that like animals having mutual enemity but staying together here in peace. people should give up enmity and practise non-violence in life. Indian scholars have looked upon these two animlas as auspicious and that is perhaps the reason why they have found place here. But all these are hypothetical statements. Truth has yet to be discovered. Then on the left side Go-Medha Yaksa" of Shri Adishwar Prabhu is shown with four arms and with weapons etc. sitting on an elephant on the right the last figure is that of Goddess Chakreshwari scated on the eagle and having six arms and holding weapons and objects. Variations are found in the weapons and vehicles of goddess Chakreshwari. The strip shows various designs of the Swastika which is considered to be an auspicious symbol. At the centre the complex design of the Swastika known as the Nandyavarta is shown. This symbol is exclusively used by the Jains and worshipped on a very large scale. It assures happy conclusion of any work and is known for its beneficial effects. Swastika, one of the eight auspicious symbols is also an auspicious symbol of Indian and Aryan civilisation. It is drawn with unbroken rice and kumkum in social and religious festivals to keep all the obstructions far away. Scriptures state that it attracts good fortune to the doer of this Mangal. In order to keep Mangal intact unbroken rice are used. In Snatra puja (birth ceremony festival of Tirthankaras)and other holy ceremonies and specially celebrations of austerities numerous. Swastika are drawn on many occasions. This Swastika or Nandyavarta is also drawn on the occasions of entrance festivals of preceptors, of icons or inauguration of holy discourses. Thousands of Jains draw such a Swastika, with rice-grains before the icon of their deity in their temples. Here the last Swastika in the strip is a facsimile of a Swastika in 'Ayaga-Pata (2000 years old) in Mathura. The Swastikas drawn here follow the clock wise course 56 but when a Jain ascetic gives up his mortal coil the Swastika is drawn with saffron on the shrouds that cover his body, in anti clockwise course. Such anti clockwise lines in Swastika are more prevalent in non-Jains. From the view point of art the Swastika is drawn in many ways. This illustration strip is the replica of a sculpture in stone. Here at the centre is shown Yakshini Ambika sitting on a lion and heavenly damsels dancing around her in various postures. This goddess is the deity of the 22nd Tirthankara Shri Neminath Prabhu. She is also known Amra-Kusmandini. This goddess is well-known among the Jains and others. Non-Jains address her as Mataji and during Navratri (the first nine days of the last month in Hindu calendar) religious Garba songs are sung with dance and religious rites performed to please her. The famous temples of this goddess are situated on Mount Abu and Mount Girnar, This strip is the replica of an art work carved on the Bhara-Huta dome. The three major circles show imaginary figures of Shrenik, the king of Magadha, well known among the Jains, the emperor Samprati and the emperor Kharvel. Shrenik was the great devotee of Bhagawan Mahavira. In the coming age he is to be a Tirthankara of the category of Bhagawan Mahavira. Emperor Samprati of Avanti was a great propagator of Jainism and had got carved crores of Jaina icons. He flourished in 220 (vir samvat). The emperor Kharvel, the great Megh-Vahan then flourished in Kalinga (Orissa) in the second century B.C. In his rule Jainism reached the climax of its glory. About Samprati only few facts are narrated in the history while reference to the emperor Kharvel, the great Megh Vahan is made in 'Avasyak Churni and Hemavant Theravali: It is a pity that history tells us nothing more about him.
19. Ambika worship in sculpture:
20. Sculpture strip:
Note: 53. The custom of installing a 'Pancha-Tirthi' in Snatra ceremony suggests the leon of the above mentioned live Tirthankaras Note: 54. The true motive behind this is yet not known and the plausible motive being unconvincing is not recorded here. Note: 55. It was not a custom for the sculptors of arabesques in certain centuries to show only those Yakshas (Demi-gods) and their spouses who
attend to a particular Tirthankara, but certain specified Yakshas and their spouses were shown. So, Ambika was shown as the spousc and Yaksha was shown with a big tummy and riding an elephant. The name of this Yaksha is still not known. The scholars think he is sarvanubhuti as mentioned in the fourth prayer of Snatasya. Generally gods and goddesses are shown as having four or more arms
but there was also a tradition of carving gods and goddesses having only two arms Note: 56. Germans are called Aryans. Their leader Hitler had accepted the anti-clockwise Swastika as a national emblem. It was shown on the
German National flag, tattooed on the arms of soldiers and painted on machines, weapons etc Note: 57. Kharvel was a great Jain emperor. He had an icon of Adishvar Bhagavan. It was made of Gold and studded with Jewels. Later on he
named this icon as Kalinga Jina. Annual festival was held to honour this icon and all the people of Kalinga took part in this festival. It is a matter of research to locate this icon
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