Treasures of Jaina Bhandaras

Author(s): Umakant P Shah, Dalsukh Malvania, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 74

Notes on Art
In the same Institute, there are several stone sculptures of various sizes, most of them brought from some Jaina temple at Ladol, North Gujarat. One such carly image of a small size (24 cms height, x 20 cms. at base) is illustrated in fig. 173. It dates from c. tenth century A.D. Most of these figures are of marble.
Two beautiful big standing Jina figures, also from Ladol, are preserved in this Institute. Of these, one earlier is illustrated in fig. 176. Here Pārsvanātha is standing in Kayotsarga pose with five snake-hoods surmounted by triple umbrella overhead. Above these are various heavenly figures met with in a Jina's parikara. On the side of the Jina are five small seated Jina figures with one more standing Jina. To the left of Pārsvanātha are five seated Tirtharkaras and a small standing attendant unidentified figure. Beside the legs of the Jina are two bigger figures of attendant fly-whisk bearers. This is a beautifully carved sculpture of c. eleventh century. A.D.
Jainas used to worship Tirtharikara122 images made of precious and semi-precious stones. Images made of crystal are more common. One such big crystal image is in worship in Śri Stambhana-Pärsvanātha temple, Cambay. A small crystal image of a Jina in padmāsana, dhyāna mudrā, from collections of the L. D. Institute, Ahmedabad, is illustrated in fig. 174. Age. c. 17 century, A.D. (Cat. no. 578), size 16x12.5 cms.
A very precious image of Pārsvanātha, made of light green jade has been gifted to the L. D. Institute, by Muni Śri Punyavijayaji (Cat. no. 575). It is a small image of 12x8 cms, size, with a figure of Pārsvanātha, surmounted by snake-hoods. Its age is c. 16th century. A.D. (See Frontispiece)
In Gujarat especially there were several beautifully carved wooden Jaina shrines.123 Some still exist and are in worship. Smaller wooden-shrines for household worship (Gpha-Caityas) also existed. Two pillasters, with miniature figures of dancing
112Shah U. P., Jaina Bronzes-A Brief Survey, in Aspects of Jaina Art and Architecture, p. 269 and foot-notes 1-6 on pp. 289-290 for references from Jaina texts about various materials from which Jaina images are made and worshipped. A silver image of a Jina installed by Hemacandra sūri is discovered in a Jaina shrine at Tharad by Dr. R. T. Parikh. It is said that there are images of precious stones in a Jaina collection at Mūdabidri in Karnataka. 128 For more information, see, Dwivedi, V. P., Jaina Wood-carvings in the National Museum collection in Aspects of Jaina Art and Architecture, pp. 415-422, and Jaina Art and Architecture, vol. III, chp. 32, pp. 428-438.