Planatary Deities type of Śāntinātha Sculptures

[Full title: Images of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha (3): Planatary Deities type of Śāntinātha Sculptures]

I have documented ten images of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha of this type from the present study area and they are belong to the zone I and zone III (six from Purulia, three from Bankura and one from Burdwan i.e., Katwa and Kalna sub-divisions).

A well preserved specimen of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha image is kept in a modern temple of Pakbirra. The mūla-nāyaka in kāyotsarga and samapādasthānaka stands on a lotus placed on sapta-ratha pedestal, the central projection of which bears the lāñchana, an antilope. Two lions crouching in opposite direction occupies the facets adjacent to the middle, while the remaining projections of the pedestal are left blank. The Jina has elongated ear-lobes, pronounced protruding eye-balls, and his hair is arranged in schematic curls with prominent uṣṇīṣa. On either side stand squat and stout male caurī-bearers with fattened legs and flat feet-palm. They ware deeply incised loin cloth and elaborate jewellery including wristlets, armlets, necklace, kamara-bandhanand ratna-mukuṭa. Beside the feet of the caurī-bearers, on either side, are carved two tiny figures of upāsakas, one female and the other male both in namaskāra, the former seated cross-legged while the latter in padmāsana. On the edge of the back-slab are eight planets arranged in a vertical row of four on either side of the Jina. These on the dexter side appear to be Sūrya, Maṅgal, Bṛhaspati and Śani; while those on the sinister side are Soma, Budha, Śukra and Rāhu. The back of the throne consists of jeweled posts supporting a cross-bar on which are triangular foliated plaques. The siraścakra has intricate patterns of beads and flame tougued border devices, and flowering twigs on either side. Vidyādharas holding long garlands can be seen beside the trilinear chatra on the top of the back-slab, and also a drum and a pair of cymbals struck by disembodied hands.

A small image of Śāntinātha is worshipped inside the private temple of the Raja of Manbazar locally known as Garh Patharmahara Thakurbari. The image measures 71 x 36 x 12 cm. The Jain in kāyotsarga posture stands on a doublepetalled lotus placed on a pañca-ratha pedestal. The Jina has elongated ear-lobes, pronounced protruding eye-balls and his hair is arranged in schematic curls with a prominent uṣṇīṣa (cranial protuberance) . On the edge of the back slab are eight planets arranged in a vertical row of four on either side of the Jina. Those on the right side of the Jina appear to be Sūrya, Maṅgal, Bṛhaspati and Śani; while those on the left side are Soma, Budha, Śukra and Rāhu. The back-slab also reveals two male caurī-bearers flanking the Jina. These profusely bejewelled caurī-bearers stand in ābhaṅga posture and their left hands are in kaṭyāvalambita posture while the right hands hold a fly-whisk. The central projection of the pedestal depicts a deer, the lāñchana of the Jina. Two crouching lions in opposite directions are depicted on the rathas adjoining the central one while the corners of the pedestal show devotees.

Similar type of a partially damaged Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha (93 x 48 x 13 cm.) image I have been documented from the site Palma (Pl.XXVIII.A). In this image the Jain standing in kāyotsarga posture stands on a double-petalled lotus placed on a pañca-ratha pedestal and the center of ratha of the pedestal bear a deer i.e., the lāñchana of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha, placed between two devotees kneeling in namaskāra mudrā. Remaining rathas are decorated with crouching lions and ratnapātras heaped with offerings. The Jina is sky-clad, has elongated ear-lobes, and his hair is arranged in schematic curls with a prominent uśṇiṅa. The śiraścakra is gracefully rimmed with rows of beads, and has flowering twiga on either side. The small but proportionate chatra is slightly damaged at the front. Vidyādharas holding garlands can be seen on the top of the parikara, and also a drum and a pair of cymbals struck by disembodied hands. On either side stands male caurī-bearers is graceful pose, wearing short lower garments and elegant ornaments comprising of wristlets, armlets, ekāvalī, kuṇḍalas, and a tall ratnamukuṭa. On the edge of the back-slab are eight planets arranged in a vertical row of four on either side of the Jina. Those on the dexter side appear to be Sūrya, Maṅgal, Bṛhaspati and Śani; while those on the left side are Soma, Budha, Śukra and Rāhu. The images of Śukra and Rāhu are damaged. All these planetary deities are seated in asusual posture on double-petalled lotus and holding their respective attributes. The back of the throne consists of jeweled posts supporting a cross-bar on which are triangular foliated plaques.

A beautiful image of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha (80 x 40 x 15 cm) is presently display in the Haripada Sahitya Mandir at Purulia town was recovered from the village of Anai Jambad (Pl.XXVIII.B). The Jina is in kāyotsarga and samapādasthānaka postures and stands on a full blown lotus placed on a sapta-ratha pedestal.The arms of the Jina hang down vertically along the slender torso and the finger tips touch the thigh on either side. The spata-ratha pedestal of the image is very simple and the central ratha adorned with the respective lāñchana of the Tīrthaṅkara i.e., deer, which is flankend by two crouching lions, facing opposite directions. The remaining rathas of the pedestal are completely blank. A very simple almost oval śiraścakra adorns the head of the savior. Above the śiraścakra and just below the top border of the back slab is a centrally placed tri-linear chatra flanked a drum and a pair of cymbals struck by disembodied hands. Two vidyādharas or garland-bearers are depicted on both corner sides at the top of the back-slab.The mūla-nāyaka is flanked by two male caurī-bearers standing in ābhṅga posture and their left hands are in kaṭyāvalambita posture and the right hands hold the fly-whisk. Both of them wear highly bejeweled and have a small halo behind their heads. Eight planetary deities are depicted at the back-slab of the image similarly with the earlier two images of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha, not only their positions but also their postures as well as their attributes also.

Two damaged specimens of similar type of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha image were documented from Purulia district [one from Palma (37 x 38 x 10 cm) and another from Baramoshya (56 x 42 x 14 cm)] and both the cases the upper portion of the Jina is missing. The remaining portions of the both the Jina images are depicts the presence of planetary deities. It is interesting to note here that both the cases nine planetary deities are presence, however, the position of ninth planetary deity i.e. Ketu is different. In cases of Palma image Ketu is presence in the dexter side, just below the image of Śani, while in the Baramoshya image Ketu is presence in the sinistert side along with the figure of Rāhu.

An image of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha is plaqued on the western wall of the abandoned Shamchand Mandir of Dharapat, Bankura district (Pl.XXVIII.C). Surprisingly, the coiffure of the Jain has an almost clean shaven appearance along with an uṣṇīṣa. This treatment of the coiffure makes the image unique and similar treatment is seen in the Pārśvanātha image from Bahulara. This Jina with a rounded puffy face and uplifted chest has a boyish appearance unlike other Jina images in the study area. The accentuated curvilinear lips impart a sense of liveliness to the expression of the Jina. The kevalavṛkṣa is finely carved and spreads on both sides of the well defined halo of the deity. The caurī-bearers, eight planetary deities and the vidyādharas are present. The attendant male caurī-bearers in ābhaṅga posture wear conical head-gears. The eight planetary deities (one is abraded and is beyond recognition, however, its position suggests that it is Śani however, interstingly a miniature Śiva liṅga is enraved there) are carved in details and the clockwise disposition is Soma, Budha, Śukra, Rāhu, then Bṛhaspati, Maṅgal and Sūrya. The planetary deities are seated on double-petalled lotus-pedestals (except Rāhu) and conform to well prescribe iconographic modes since the ninth-tenth centuries CE.

The terracotta temple of the local Zamindar of Simlapal, Bankura contains some terracotta plaques along with few stone sculptures associated with Jain ideology. Among these stone sculptural specimens I recoded one image of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha. The Jina is in the usual posture on a double-petalled lotus placed on a tri-ratha pedestal. The lāñchana of the Tīrthaṅkara is depicting at the center of the pedestal. The icon measures 75 cm x 36 cm x 15 cm. The mūla-nāyaka is flanked by two male caurī-bearers standing in ābhaṅga posture on their respective pedestals and their left hands are in kaṭyāvalambita posture and the right hands hold the fly-whisk. The figure of the Jina is carved out on a rectangular back-slab with projected side frames. On the edge of the projected part of the back-slab are nine planetary deities are presence (jyotiṣka-deva). They arranged in a vertical row of four on right side and five on the left side of the Jina. Those on the dexter side appear to be Sūrya, Maṅgala, Bṛhaspati and Śani; while those on the sinister side are Soma, Buddha, Śukra, Rāhu and Ketu. The position of the Rāhu and Ketu are very much similar with the Baramoshya specimen. The eight planetary deities are seated in padmāsana posture and holding their respective attributes in both the hands.

A damaged (head of the Tīrthaṅkara is missing) image of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha is presently in the collection of the Sub Divisional Office of Khatra, Bankura (Pl.XXVIII.D). The specimen is measures 84 x 52 x 10 cm. and the Tīrthaṅkara stands in kāyotsarga pose on a double-petalled lotus with the figures of ābhaṅga camara bearer on its either side. It is impossible to delineate the facial expression of the deity and to give details about the back-slab of the image as its upper portion is totally missing. The cognizance deer is carved on centre of the triratha pedestal of the image. On the edge of the back-slab are four planetary deities arranged in a vertical row of two on either side of the principal deity. Assumedly, the specimen originally accommodated the figurines of all the eight planetary deities. As the upper portion of the specimen is broken, at present it does not carry any signs of the figural depictions of the remaining four jyotiska-devas. The figures of Bṛhaspati and Śani are depicted on the right side of the mūla-nāyaka; while the images of Śukra and Rāhu are on other side of the central figure. In this image Bṛhaspati and Śukra both hold water pots and Śani is carved with his peculiar seating posture. He is holding a distinctive staff. Rāhu is shown frontally with his voluminous head and peculiar hair dress. His hands are in tarpana-mudra.

Another image of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha of this type was discovered from the village known as Ujani district Burdwan (Pl.XXVIII.E) and is presently displayed in the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad Museum Calcutta. In this image the mūla-nāyaka stands in kāyatosarga posture on a double petalled lotus placed on the pañca-ratha pedestal. The Tirthnakara is flanked by two male caurī-bearers standing in ābhaṅga postures on the full lotus placed on the same pedestal. Both the caurī-bearers wear highly decorative ornament along with a mukuṭa and their dresses are of very fine quality. The figure of the mūla-nāyaka is bulky in nature though his facial expression shows a smile coupled with a yogic appearance. The mūla-nāyaka has extended ear-lobes and his hair is arranged in small curls with a protuberance. The back portion of the head of the Jina is embellished with an ovoidal śiraścakra and above it a trilinear chatra is depicted. On both sides of the head of the Jain a flying vīdyadhara is carved on cloud forms and above it on both side musicians are playing drums from heaven. On both sides of the stele we find the representation of nine planetary deities (four in the right side of Jain and five in the left side of Jaina) in seated posture. The eight planetary deities are the clockwise disposition is Candra, Budha, Śukra, Rāhu, Śani (abraded), Bṛhaspati, Maṅgala and Sūrya (Mevissen 1999: 439).