Image title: Number 6: Tirthankara Rishabhanatha

This is the image of Tirthankara Rishabhanatha. The Jina stands in kayotsarga pose on a double-petalled lotus placed on a panca-ratha pedestal. The depictions of the elongated ear-lobes, jatajuta and the kesha-vallari are quite prominent of the mula-nayaka. An elliptical shirashcakra with leafed edge adorns the head of the Saviour. Above the shirashcakra a partially damaged tri-linear chatra is depict. The two vidyadharas holding long garlands are depicted on the extreme top most corners of the rectangular back-slab. The representation of the heavenly hands playing a drum is also present. Like the earlier image this is also Panca-tirthika type of image and four miniature Jinas depicts in the back-slab of this image. All of them are standing in kayotsarga posture on double-petalled pedestals and two on either side of the Jina. The mula-nayaka is flanked by two male cauribearers standing in abhanga posture on their respective pedestals and their left hands are in katyavalambita posture and the right hands hold the fly-whisk. The center of the panca-ratha pedestal of the image having the depiction of a bull, lanchana of the Jina, flanked by a kneeling donor couple. Two stylized representations of crouching lions, facing opposite directions, are depicted on either ends of the pedestal. It is made of black basalt and measures 53.5 x 27 x 12 cm. On stylistic consideration, the image is assignable to circa 11^th–12^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.