Image title: Number 4: Tirthankara Rishabhanatha

This is the image of Tirnthkara Rishabhanatha. The Jina stands in kayotsarga posture on a full blown lotus placed on a tri-ratha pedestal. In the centre of the pedestal the bull, the lanchana of the Jina, is depicting. The lanchana is flanked by two devotees in namaskaramudra. The extreme projections on both sides have crouching lions facing opposite directions. This is a Panca-tirthika type of image. On the edges of the back-slab miniature figures of four Tinrtkhaaras arranged in two each on either side of the mula-nayaka are depicted. Like the principal image, they also stand in kayotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus and their respective lanchanas are carved at the centre of their lotus thrones. The Jina is flanked on both sides by male cauri-bearers with haloes behind their heads. Their left hands are in katyavalambita posture and the right hands hold a fly-whisk. The back throne of the image consists of posts decorated with mouldings and criss-cross scratched pilasters, supporting a horizontal cross-bar with lightly incised square rhizomes at its ends, above which there are triangular fleurons. The face of the mula-nayaka is partially damaged and he wears a jata-mukuta with curls falling down the sides of the head and over the shoulders. An elliptical shirashcakra with leafed edge adorns the head of the Saviour. Above the shirashcakra is the depiction of a small three-tiered parasol flanked by two vidyadharas holding long garlands. It is made of black basalt and measures 57 x 28.5 x 9.5 cm. On stylistic consideration, the image is assignable to circa 10^th–11^th centuries CE.

Gallery information:

These photographs accompany the study on Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal based on the fields of Archaeology, Art and Iconography. Jainism represents a way of life incorporating non-violence and approaches religion from humanitarian viewpoint. Ancient Bengal represents the modern state of West Bengal and the Republic of Bangladesh, situated in the eastern part of the Indian sub-continent. Here, Jainism was allowed to flourish from the pre-Christian times up until the 10th century CE, along with Buddhism.