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 60

Introduction
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as we some times find, mixed with good images, when the sculptor available happened to be a bad artist. Specific rules are given in Silpa or art manuals for making an image artistically perfect. Commonsense assures us that the authors of these manuals who made much minute rules of art-technique were not mere priests of temples or clerks of religion but were well-versed in the science of sculptural art. We are, however, more concerned here with symbolism and iconography than with art-techniques. Flow are we to distinguish Jaina images generally from other images of India ? As prominence is given to imagery of Tirthamkaras or pontists in Jaina Iconography, we must find the chicf characteristic of a Jina figure to settle this point. The distinguishing features of a Jaina figure are its long hanging arms, the Srivatsa symbol, the mild form, youthful body and nudity. Other characteristics of such images seem to be the main figure being attended on his right side by a Yaksa and on his left side by a Yakṣiṇī,3 the presence of the Asoka or the particular tree under which the Tīrthařkaras attained the supreme knowledge, one of the tight Pratihāryas which consist of (i) heavenly tree, (ii) a throne
1. शेषस्थानविकल्पेषु यथाशोभं विकल्पयेत् । पर्यङ्कमपि तावत्तु तिर्यगायामसंस्थितम् ॥ वाहुयुग्मान्तरं देशे ह्रासयेच्चतुरगुलम् । प्रकोष्ठा
कूर्परं यावद्द्वयङ्गुलं वर्धयेत्सदा ॥ कायोत्सर्गस्थितस्यतल्लक्षणं भाषितं बुधैः । पर्यस्थपराण्येवम् ... उर्ध्वस्थितस्य मानार्द्ध मुत्सेवं परिकल्पयेत् ।। Ibid. Such passages indicate the author's expert knowledge of the techniques
of art. 2. आजानुलम्बबाहुः श्रीवत्साङ्कः प्रशान्तमूर्तिश्च । दिग्वासास्तरुणो रूपवांश्च कार्योऽर्हतां देवः ॥
(Varāhamihira's Bịhatsarihitā 58 Adhyāya, 45 Sloka) Cf. अथ बिम्बं जिनेन्द्रस्य कर्तव्यं लक्षणान्वितम् । ऋज्वायतसुसंस्थानं तरुणाङ्गदिगम्बरम् । श्रीवत्सभूषितोरस्कं जानुप्राप्तकराग्रजम् । निजामुलं प्रमाणेन साष्टाङ्गुलशतायतम् । कक्षादिरोमहीनाङ्ग श्मश्रुशेषविवर्जितम् । ऊर्ध्वप्रलम्बकं दत्वा समाप्त्यन्तं च धारयेत् ॥
Vasunandi's Pratisthā-sūra-saṁgraha (Jaina Sidd. Library 9 ir). 3. प्रगृहीतसितविमलवरचामराग्रहस्तोभयपार्श्वस्थ विविधमणि · · · विकृताभरणालङकृत-यक्ष-नाग-मिथुनाः ।।
Akalamkadeva's Tattrārtha-Rajavārttika