Image title: Number 2: Jaina Tutelary Couple

This is a Jain Tutelary couple. In this image the couple sits in ardhaparyankasana posture on a flat throne. The male figure sits on the right, with the right hand held in abhaya-mudra and his left hand holds some indistinct object. He wears a dhoti reaching well below the knee, and elaborates jewellery comprising of bracelets, armlets, beaded necklace, large circular kundalas, and an elegant ratna-mukuta. The female figure is similarly attired and bejewelled save an elegant coiffure with fillets replacing the ratna-mukuta. She holds a child in her left lap while her right hand she holds an indistinct object. Sheltering both these figures is a sprouting stylized unidentified tree, from the branching knot of which descend a miniature figure. Above the branches of the tree is a seated Jina in dhyana-mudra on a lotus seat and under a tri-linear parasol. The lanchana of the Jina is not clearly visible.The profusely bejewelled cauri-bearers standing in both the side of the Jina with their left hands rest on leg and the right hands hold flywhisks. Vidyadharas can be seen on the top-corners of the black-slab. In the pedestal six figures are depicted and due to the abraded condition it is very difficult to identify these images. The image is made of black basalt and measures 52 x 32.5 x 9cm. 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.