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Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal

by Shubha Majumder | 2017 | 147,217 words

This page relates ‘Panca-tirthika type of Parshvanatha sculptures� of the study on the Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal based on the fields of Geography, Archaeology, Art and Iconography. Jainism represents a way of life incorporating non-violence and approaches religion from humanitarian viewpoint. Ancient Bengal comprises modern West Bengal and the Republic of Bangladesh, Eastern India. Here, Jainism was allowed to flourish from the pre-Christian times up until the 10th century CE, along with Buddhism.

ʲñ-īٳ󾱰첹 type of śٳ sculptures

[Full title: Images of īٳṅk śٳ (2): ʲñ-īٳ󾱰첹 type of śٳ sculptures]

Eight images of īٳṅk śٳ of this variety are documented from the present study area (three from Purulia, four from Bankura and one from Burdwan).

The site Pakbirra possesses a ʲñ-īٳ󾱰첹 type of śٳ image (Pl.XXX.D) which is measures 64.5 x 33 cm (Bhattacharyya, Mitra and Bhowmick 1986: 147-8). In this image the ū-ⲹ첹 stands in dzٲ on a doublepettaled lotus under the usual canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. He is accompanied on either side by gracefully adorned stout-looking ū-bearers. A couple with their tails entwined, the male with arms folded in Բ-ܻ and the female holding a musical instrument, is shown beside the attendants of the Jina. On the edge of the back slab are carved four images of īٳṅks in dzٲ two in each side of the ū-ⲹ첹 with their respective ñ󲹲Բ depicted on a slightly raised pedestal below them. The upper part of the stele contains the usual 󲹰 couple, the پⲹ of heavenly hands playing on musical instruments and a projected three-tiered chatra surmounting the snake hoods. A lightly incised flower and a twig of a tree can be seen just beside the snake-hood. The simple tri-ratha pedestal reveals crouching lions and figures of ܱ첹.

A ʲñ-īٳ󾱰첹 type śٳ image, measures 75 cm x 34 cm x 10 cm. is now kept in the modern temple of Ani Jambad, (Pl.XXX.E) Purulia. The ūⲹ첹 stands in dzٲ on a double-pettaled lotus under the usual canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. He wears curly hair with ṣṇīṣa and is accompanied on either side by gracefully adorned ū-bearers. A Nāga couple with their tails entwined, the male with arms folded in Բ-ܻ and the female holding a musical instrument, is shown beside the attendants of the Jina. On the back-slab are carved four images of īٳṅks in dzٲ two in each side of the ū-ⲹ첹 with their respective ñ󲹲Բ depicted on a slightly raised pedestal below them. From their cognizances these īٳṅks can be identified as ܱūⲹ and Padmaprabha to the right of the ū-ⲹ첹, and 𳾾ٳ and Ѳ屹ī to his left. The upper part of the stele contains the usual 󲹰 couple, the پⲹ of heavenly hands playing on musical instruments and a projected three-tiered chatra surmounting the snake hoods. The face and the torso of the Jina are slightly abraded. The tri-ratha pedestal reveals crouching lions, a female devotee, and naivedya offerings.

The śٳ icon (31 x 18 x 3 cm) from Herbona is depicted as standing in dzٲ posture on a lotus-seat under the canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. A -couple with their hands folded and inter-coiled tails springs from both sides of the attendants. The edge of the stela is carved with four īٳṅks in dzٲ postures, arranged in pairs on each side of the Jina. On either side of the ū-ⲹ첹 stand sensitively modelled 峾󲹰 with their left hands in 첹ṭy屹ٲ posture and the right hands holding a fly-whisk. The centre of the pedestal has a ṅg-첹 and two crouching lions facing in opposite directions occupy the facets/projections adjacent to the centre. The remaining projections of the pedestal are left blank.

Three images of śٳ of this type have been found from Satpatta, Bankura (Chattopadhyay 2010: 200). The Jain images are presently plaqued on the right side wall of the modern temple of this village. The largest one measures 100 x 50 cm and is made of black basalt (Pl.XXX.F). In this sculptural specimen, śٳ, the ū-ⲹ첹, stands in dzٲ posture on a double-petalled lotus-pedestal under a canopy of seven snake hoods. The Jina is flanked on both sides by snake coils. The outline of the snake-hood reminds one of an umbrella and this variety of snake-hood has also been depicted in the śٳ icon of Harmasra. In contrast, the snake-hood canopy of Pāśvanātha images found from the Vishnupur region, has a towering character. The pedestal of the present image is tri-ratha and a 岵 couple with their inter-coiled tails springs gracefully almost rhythmically from the centre projection of the pedestal just below the feet of the Jina. This inter-coiled 岵 motif has been repeatedly depicted in the majority of the śٳ images found from various sites in eastern India (like eastern Orissa, the Chhotanagpur plateau and parts of Purulia). The 岵 holds a water-vessel while the holds some indistinct implements. The centre of the pedestal has a ṅg-kalasa and two crouching lions facing in opposite direction occupy the facets/projections adjacent to the centre. The remaining projections of the pedestal are left blank. The Jina is attended by two male ܰī-bearers wearing succinct lower garments and different ornaments like necklaces, ū, ṇḍ, and a conical like crown. They stand in ṅg posture on pedestals and their left hands are in 첹ṭy屹ٲ posture while the right hands hold fly-whisks. The Jina’s face is more or less damaged. On the edge of the back-slab are carved four images of īٳṅk in dzٲ posture with their respective ñ󲹲Բ depicted on a slightly raised pedestal below them. The upper part of the stele contains the usual 󲹰, the پⲹ of heavenly hands playing on musical instruments, and a projected tiered chatra surmounting the snake-hood.

The remaining two śٳ images made of chlorite stone and measuring 45 x 25 cm, 70 x 35 cm have been plaqued side by side on the right wall of the modern temple mentioned earlier. In each case, the depictions and other iconographic details are the same. The Jain stands in dzٲ posture on a lotus-seat under the canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. A 岵-couple with their hands folded and intercoiled tails springs from both sides of the attendants. The edge of the stele is carved with four īٳṅks in dzٲ postures, arranged in pairs on each side of the Jina. The style of execution in each case is also the same. However, the smaller specimen of 45 x 25 cm exhibits a finer craftsmanship than its bigger counterpart. Stylistically, these three are assignable to c. twelfth century CE.

A badly weathered image of śٳ is lying (Pl.XXXI.A) on the slope of the hill of Paresnath (Chattopadhyay 2010: 199). It is made of chlorite stone and measures 116 x 57 cm. The top of the back-slab is broken. Iconographically this image is very much similar with the earlier images of this group. Both the side of the ū-ⲹ첹 four figure of miniature Jinas in dzٲ posture are depicted (two on the each side). Their respective ñ󲹲Բ is carved on the small pedestal placed below them, but due to the abrasion none of these are recognizable.

A broken image of śٳ is worshipped in the modern temple of Kundo, Burdwan. The image exhibits the upper portion of the Jina and measures 40 x 32 x 8 cm. A seven hooded snake canopy protect the ū-ⲹ첹 and above this a projected tiered chatra is visible, which is flanked by 󲹰s holding long flowering garlands. Among the four miniature īٳṅks only two are survived and depicted in the back-slab of both the sides of the ū-ⲹ첹.

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