Caubisi type of Candraprabha sculptures

[Full title: Images of Tīrthaṅkara Candraprabha (3): Caubisi type of Candraprabha sculptures]

We have documented two images of this variety and both are from Purulia, one from Pakbirra and another from Bauridi. Among these two the largest one (Pl.XXV.F) is now placed in the temple no III of Pakbirra and it measures 130 x 72 x15 cm. It is a is of the caubisi type of image though the upper portion of the back slab is damaged and only sixteen miniature Jina are visible now on the both the side of the mūla-nāyaka (six in the right side and ten in the left side) on a projected frame. Like the principal image, they also stand in kāyotsarga posture on double-petalled lotus-pedestals and their respective lāñchanas are depicts on the centre of the pedestal. The mūla-nāyaka stands in kāyotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus placed on a tri-ratha pedestal. The Jina, is devoid of any worldly attire, has elongated ear-lobes and his meditative eyes shows the yogic or spiritual power. His hair is arranged in schematic curls and both the arms of the Jina hang down vertically along the stiff torso. The finger tips touch the thigh on either side. The Jina is flanked on both sides by stout male caurī-bearers. The head of the left side caurī-bearer is damaged. They are both standing in ābhaṅga posture on the lotus pedestal and wearing a conical head-gear and long dhoti-like lower garments finely incised. Their left hands rest on their thighs while the right hands hold fly-whisks. The central projection of the tri-ratha pedestal is decorated with stylized lotus creeper with scrolled leaves and buds. The lāñchana of Candraprabha, a crescent moon, is depicted at the centre of this decoration. Male and a female devotee kneeling in namaskāramudrā are present in the left side of this pedestal and ratna–pātras heaped with offerings is placed in the right side. Both the ends of this stylized pedestal are ornamented with crouching lions. The lowermost border of the pedestal is decorated with geometrical motifs interspersed with rosette motifs.

Only the lower half of the Bauridi specimen of Tīrthaṅkara Candraprabha (Pl.XXVI.A) is remaining. The extant part (measuring 80 x 70 x 23 cm) reveals the Jina standing in a stiff kāyotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus seat placed on a pañca-ratha pedestal. The Jina is flanked on both sides by stout male caurī-bearers of which the one to the right of the Jina is completely damaged and the face of the other is mutilated. The caurī-bearers wear deeply incised loin cloth and elaborate jewellery. They stand on lotus pedestals and their left hands are in kaṭyāvalambita posture and the right hands hold a fly-whisk. This is a caubisi type of image, however, since the image is broken only twelve miniature Tīrthaṅkaras are evident. At the edges of the back-slab, on a projected frame, they are relieved in three vertical rows of two each on either side of the mūla-nāyaka. Like the principal image, they also stand in kāyotsarga posture on a lotus pedestal and their respective lāñchanas are carved at the centre of their thrones. The existing portion of the present image shows that the mūlanāyaka bears a svelte figure and the carving of the image is very sophisticated. The arms of the Jina hang down vertically along the stiff torso and the finger tips touch the thigh on either side. The central projection of the pedestal has a stylized foliated scroll with leaves and buds while the lāñchana of Candraprabha, a crescent moon, is depicted at the centre of the decorated border below the main stalk of the lotus emblem. The lowermost border of the pedestal is decorated with geometrical motifs interspersed with rosette motifs. Stylized representations of crouching lions are carved on both sides (adjacent to the central projection) of the lotus scroll. A male and a female devotee kneeling in namaskāra-mudrā along with ratna–pātras heaped with offerings are placed on the remaining portions (the extreme rathas) of the pedestal. This image is carved of chlorite stone with greenish hue.