Caubisi type of Pārśvanātha Sculptures

[Full title: Images of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha (3): Caubisi type of Pārśvanātha Sculptures]

Seven images of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha are documented from the present study area. Among these image four images from Purulia, two images from Bankura and one from South Twenty Four Parganas.

The site Ani Jambad of Purulia district possesses some beautiful images of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha (Pl.XXXI.B). Among these image the largest and the most graceful sculpture among the group and is befittingly placed in the centre of the podium. The Jina stands in kāyotsarga on a seven-hooded snake, which is surmounted by a tri-linear chatra. A nāga couple with their hands folded and tails inter-coiled springs gracefully and rhythmically from the central protection of a tri-ratha pedestal to just beside the feet of the savior. A pair of kneeling devotees with their hands joined in añjali-mudrā is seen on the plane of the pedestal, which bears the representation of crouching lions on the remaining facets. The Jina is flanked by two male caūri-bearers standing in graceful ābhaṅga pose wearing lower garments and bedecked with jewelleries. On the edge of the rectangular back-slab are the twenty four Tīrthaṅkaras arranged in pairs, one above the other. The lāñchanas of the Jinas are carved on their pedestals and quite a number of them are recognizable. Flying vidyādhara couple holding garlands is seen high up on the stele.

Among the two Tīrthaṅkara images of Chalka, Purulia district one is identifiable i.e. is the image of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha (Pl.XXXI.C) and another was unidentifiable. It is carved from a local variety of greenish stone and partially eroded. The lower portion of the image is lost and the existing specimen is measure 66 x 50 x 12 cm. In this image the Jina stands in kāyotsarga posture 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. The mūla-nāyaka bears a svelte figure and the carving is sophisticated. This is a caubisi type of image. However, the edges of the back stele, on a projected frame, is relieved with twelve–figures of miniature Tīrthaṅkaras, two each on the side arranged in four vertical rows in right side of the mūla-nāyaka and two vertical rows in the left 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 upper part of the rectangular stele contains the usual vidyādhara, the prātihāryas of heavenly hands playing on musical instruments, and a projected tiered chatra surmounting the snakehood.

An impressive image of the twenty-third Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha (Pl.XXXI.D) is kept under a tree and worshipped as a Brahmanical deity in the village of Podlara, Purulia district. It measures 100 x 51 x 19 cm. The Jina is in the usual kāyotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus-pedestal placed on a pañca-ratha pedestal under a canopy of seven snake hoods. The canopy is minutely carved and is of high relief. The depiction of the snake hood is a common type found in several Brahmanical and Jain images found from Bankura, Purulia and Jharkhand. The Jina is attended by two male caurī-bearers wearing succinct lower garments and different ornaments like necklaces, keyūra, kuṇḍala, and a conical jaṭā 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 twenty four images of Tīrthaṅkaras in kāyotsarga posture with their respective lāñchanas depicted on their lotus seats. They are arranged in six horizontal lines of two each on either side of the Jina. The triple umbrella hovers above the snake-hood of the Jina with branches of the kevala vṛkṣa issuing out from top of the parasol. Divine hands playing cymbals and a drum are carved on either side of the tri-linear chatra. Two flying figures or vidyādharas are shown in the upper angles, offering garlands to the Jina. The lower part of the image is buried into the soil however, the nāga couple are visible on both sides of the lotus seat of the Jina. The intersection of planes of the body of the Jina is sensitively portrayed.

A broken image of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha (Pl.XXXI.E) is lying on the slope of the hill of Paresnath, Bankura (Chattopadhyay 2010: 199). Originally, it was a finely executed gigantic image of Pārśvanātha. The image is presently not well preserved. The nude Tīrthaṅkara stands in kāyotsarga pose on a double-petalled lotus under a seven-hooded canopy of a serpent. On both sides of his legs is an attendant standing on a lotus with a kneeling devotee in front. The back-slab is decorated with miniature figures, the twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras arranged in pairs, one above the other. They are also in kāyotsarga pose. The lāñchanas or emblems of the Jinas are carved on the pedestals and quite a number of them are distinguishable. The flying vidyādhara-couples holding garlands are on the upper part of the stele. The image is made of chlorite stone and measures 198 x 83 cm.

According to Mitra, the stone temple of Kendua has most probably enshrined with the Pārśvanātha image, which she was document as damaged condition near the ruins of the old temple. Though, the upper portion of the image along with the head of the image is missing however, the remaining portion of the image indicat that this is a Caubisi type of sculpture. The Jina stands in kāyotsarga posture on a lotus-seat most probably under the canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. On the both the side of of the Jina near to the feet, is a three-hooded nāgi, the left one holding a ghaṭa; beyond them is a standing attendant holding a chauri. On the edge of the back-slab are carved twenty four images of Tīrthaṅkaras, arranged in four horizontal lines of three each on either side of the Jina, in kāyotsarga posture with their respective lāñchanas depicted on their lotus seats. However, at present only twelve (three on left side and nine on right side) are remaining.

In the Bisalakshmi temple of Karanjali-Katabeniya village of South Twenty Four Parganas, an image of the 23^rd Jain Tīrthaṅkara, Pārśvanātha (Pl.XXXI.F) has installed and regularly worshipped by the villagers. This black basalt image measures 3.5 feet in height and in this image the Jina is depicted in kāyotsarga posture standing below a seven-hooded snake canopy. The coil of the snake is shown on both the sides of the Jina. The image is executed with a high quality of craftsmanship. The mūlanāyaka obviously devoid of any worldly attire, has elongated ear-lobes and his hair is arranged in schematic curls with prominent uṣṇīṣa. 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 snake canopy of the Jina is surmounted by a trilinear chatra. Both sides of the śiraścakra are flanked by the depictions of hands playing on drums and hovering vidyādharas holding long garlands. The top of the back-slab is apsidal and partially damaged.

The most noteworthy feature of the image is the presence of twenty four seated miniature Jina figures surrounding the central one and all displaying in dhyāna mudrā. They are arranged in six horizontal lines of two each on either side of the Jina. All the miniature Jinas are iconographically identical, differentiated only by their cihnas (lāñchanas) carved against the pedestals. Unfortunately the pedestal of this image is embedded in plaster.