Pañca-tīrthika type of Pārśvanātha sculptures

[Full title: Images of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha (2): Pañca-tīrthika type of Pārśvanātha sculptures]

Eight images of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha of this variety are documented from the present study area (three from Purulia, four from Bankura and one from Burdwan).

The site Pakbirra possesses a Pañca-tīrthika type of Pārśvanātha image (Pl.XXX.D) which is measures 64.5 x 33 cm (Bhattacharyya, Mitra and Bhowmick 1986: 147-8). In this image the mūla-nāyaka stands in kāyotsarga on a doublepettaled lotus under the usual canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. He is accompanied on either side by gracefully adorned stout-looking caūri-bearers. A nāga couple with their tails entwined, the male with arms folded in namaskāra-mudrā and the female holding a musical instrument, is shown beside the attendants of the Jina. On the edge of the back slab are carved four images of Tīrthaṅkaras in kāyotsarga two in each side of the mūla-nāyaka with their respective lāñchanas depicted on a slightly raised pedestal below them. The upper part of the stele contains the usual vidyādhara couple, the prātihāryas of heavenly hands playing on musical instruments and a projected three-tiered chatra surmounting the snake hoods. A lightly incised flower and a twig of a tree can be seen just beside the snake-hood. The simple tri-ratha pedestal reveals crouching lions and figures of upāsakas.

A Pañca-tīrthika type Pārśvanātha image, measures 75 cm x 34 cm x 10 cm. is now kept in the modern temple of Ani Jambad, (Pl.XXX.E) Purulia. The mūlanāyaka stands in kāyotsarga on a double-pettaled lotus under the usual canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. He wears curly hair with uṣṇīṣa and is accompanied on either side by gracefully adorned caūri-bearers. A Nāga couple with their tails entwined, the male with arms folded in namaskāra-mudrā and the female holding a musical instrument, is shown beside the attendants of the Jina. On the back-slab are carved four images of Tīrthaṅkaras in kāyotsarga two in each side of the mūla-nāyaka with their respective lāñchanas depicted on a slightly raised pedestal below them. From their cognizances these Tīrthaṅkaras can be identified as Vāsupūjya and Padmaprabha to the right of the mūla-nāyaka, and Neminātha and Mahāvīra to his left. The upper part of the stele contains the usual vidyādhara couple, the prātihāryas of heavenly hands playing on musical instruments and a projected three-tiered chatra surmounting the snake hoods. The face and the torso of the Jina are slightly abraded. The tri-ratha pedestal reveals crouching lions, a female devotee, and naivedya offerings.

The Pārśvanātha icon (31 x 18 x 3 cm) from Herbona is depicted as standing in kāyotsarga posture on a lotus-seat under the canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. A nāga-couple with their hands folded and inter-coiled tails springs from both sides of the attendants. The edge of the stela is carved with four Tīrthaṅkaras in kāyotsarga postures, arranged in pairs on each side of the Jina. On either side of the mūla-nāyaka stand sensitively modelled cāmaradharas with their left hands in kaṭyāvalambita posture and the right hands holding a fly-whisk. The centre of the pedestal has a maṅgala-kalasa and two crouching lions facing in opposite directions occupy the facets/projections adjacent to the centre. The remaining projections of the pedestal are left blank.

Three images of Pārśvanātha of this type have been found from Satpatta, Bankura (Chattopadhyay 2010: 200). The Jain images are presently plaqued on the right side wall of the modern temple of this village. The largest one measures 100 x 50 cm and is made of black basalt (Pl.XXX.F). In this sculptural specimen, Pārśvanātha, the mūla-nāyaka, stands in kāyotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus-pedestal under a canopy of seven snake hoods. The Jina is flanked on both sides by snake coils. The outline of the snake-hood reminds one of an umbrella and this variety of snake-hood has also been depicted in the Pārśvanātha icon of Harmasra. In contrast, the snake-hood canopy of Pāśvanātha images found from the Vishnupur region, has a towering character. The pedestal of the present image is tri-ratha and a nāga couple with their inter-coiled tails springs gracefully almost rhythmically from the centre projection of the pedestal just below the feet of the Jina. This inter-coiled nāga motif has been repeatedly depicted in the majority of the Pārśvanātha images found from various sites in eastern India (like eastern Orissa, the Chhotanagpur plateau and parts of Purulia). The nāga holds a water-vessel while the nāgi holds some indistinct implements. The centre of the pedestal has a maṅgala-kalasa and two crouching lions facing in opposite direction occupy the facets/projections adjacent to the centre. The remaining projections of the pedestal are left blank. The Jina is attended by two male caurī-bearers wearing succinct lower garments and different ornaments like necklaces, keyūra, kuṇḍala, and a conical jatā like crown. They stand in ābhaṅga posture on pedestals and their left hands are in kaṭyāvalambita posture while the right hands hold fly-whisks. The Jina’s face is more or less damaged. On the edge of the back-slab are carved four images of Tīrthaṅkara in kāyotsarga posture with their respective lāñchanas depicted on a slightly raised pedestal below them. The upper part of the stele contains the usual vidyādhara, the prātihāryas of heavenly hands playing on musical instruments, and a projected tiered chatra surmounting the snake-hood.

The remaining two Pārśvanātha images made of chlorite stone and measuring 45 x 25 cm, 70 x 35 cm have been plaqued side by side on the right wall of the modern temple mentioned earlier. In each case, the depictions and other iconographic details are the same. The Jain stands in kāyotsarga posture on a lotus-seat under the canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. A nāga-couple with their hands folded and intercoiled tails springs from both sides of the attendants. The edge of the stele is carved with four Tīrthaṅkaras in kāyotsarga postures, arranged in pairs on each side of the Jina. The style of execution in each case is also the same. However, the smaller specimen of 45 x 25 cm exhibits a finer craftsmanship than its bigger counterpart. Stylistically, these three are assignable to c. twelfth century CE.

A badly weathered image of Pārśvanātha is lying (Pl.XXXI.A) on the slope of the hill of Paresnath (Chattopadhyay 2010: 199). It is made of chlorite stone and measures 116 x 57 cm. The top of the back-slab is broken. Iconographically this image is very much similar with the earlier images of this group. Both the side of the mūla-nāyaka four figure of miniature Jinas in kāyotsarga posture are depicted (two on the each side). Their respective lāñchana is carved on the small pedestal placed below them, but due to the abrasion none of these are recognizable.

A broken image of Pārśvanātha is worshipped in the modern temple of Kundo, Burdwan. The image exhibits the upper portion of the Jina and measures 40 x 32 x 8 cm. A seven hooded snake canopy protect the mūla-nāyaka and above this a projected tiered chatra is visible, which is flanked by vidyādharas holding long flowering garlands. Among the four miniature Tīrthaṅkaras only two are survived and depicted in the back-slab of both the sides of the mūla-nāyaka.