Image title: Number 1: Yakshi Ambika

This is the image of Ambika, Yakshi of the twenty second Tirthankara Neminatha. The goddess is seated in ardha-paryankasana posture. She wears a diaphanous shari fastened by an ornamented girdle and profuse jewellery. The latter comprising of urujalaka, armlets, keyura, multistranded necklaces, kundalas, and a decorated crown. Above her head a triple chatra is depicted. She is holding a little child (Prabhankara) in her left lap and her right hand is in varada-mudra. On the left side of her pedestal another image of child (her elder son Subhankara) is depict and right side a crouching lion is also engraved as her cognizance. The back-slab is apsidal in shape and bears minimal decorations. This is made of chlorite stone and measures 39 x 29 x 10cm. On stylistic consideration, the image is assignable to circa 9^th–10^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.