Jaina Iconography

SR No.: 011018
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: B Bhattacharya
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 247
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 19

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nātha, had built temples on the Kailāsa mountain for enshrining the images of Jina in them. And from that time onwards the people also followed the same tradition:
श्रुत्वा सकाशाद् भरतेश्वरोऽपि कैलासभूध्र मणिरत्नचूर्ण:। द्वासप्तति जनपमंदिराणां निर्माप्य चक्रे जिनबिंबसंस्थाम् ॥ ततः प्रभृत्येव महाधनैः स्वं प्रतिष्ठया धन्यतमं विधाय । मंरक्ष्यतेऽनादिजिनेन्द्रचन्द्रमुखोद्गतं स्थापनसद्विधानम् ॥
-Pratisthāpatha, 62, 63. Vasunandi states that all such places, where the Tirthankaras were born, initiated, enlightened and attained nirvāna, as well as the bank of rivers, mountains, villages, and seashore are suitable for sites for Jaina temples:
जन्मनिष्क्रमणस्थानज्ञाननिर्वाणभूमिषु । अन्येप पुण्यदेशेषु नदीकलनगेषु च ।। ग्रामादिसन्निवेशेषु समुद्रपुलिनेषु च। अन्येषु वा मनोज्ञेषु कारयेज्जिनमंदिरम् ।।
-Pratisthāsārasaigraha, 3, 3-4. The same idea has also been expressed by Jayasena : शद्धे प्रदेशे नगरेऽप्यटव्यां नदीसमीपे शुचितीर्थभूम्याम् । विस्तीर्णशृगोन्नतकेतुमालाविराजितं जैनगृहं प्रशस्तम् ॥
-Pratișthāpātha, 125. Bhuvanadeva also remarks that the Jaina temples should be built inside the towns :
तीर्थकरोद्भवाः सर्वे सर्वशान्तिप्रदायकाः । जिनेन्द्रस्य प्रकर्तव्याः पुरमध्येषु शान्तिदा: ॥
-Aparājitapşcchā, 179, 14. The place for building a Jaina temple was carefully selected and had to be good in all respects :
रम्यां स्निग्धां सगन्धादिदूर्वाद्याढ्यां ततः शुचिम् । जिनजन्मादिनावास्ये स्वीकुर्याद् भूमिमुत्तमाम् ।।
-Pratisthāsāroddhāra, 1, 18. As far as the material of a Jina image is concerned, it can be made of mani, ratna, gold, silver, brass, muktaphala and stone :