Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal

by Shubha Majumder | 2017 | 147,217 words

This page relates ‘Panca-tirthika type of Mahavira sculptures’ of the study on the Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal based on the fields of Geography, Archaeology, Art and Iconography. Jainism represents a way of life incorporating non-violence and approaches religion from humanitarian viewpoint. Ancient Bengal comprises modern West Bengal and the Republic of Bangladesh, Eastern India. Here, Jainism was allowed to flourish from the pre-Christian times up until the 10th century CE, along with Buddhism.

Pañca-tīrthika type of Mahāvīra sculptures

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

I have documented three images of Tīrthaṅkara Mahāvīra from Pakbirra. Among these three images two images are belonging to the Pañca-tīrthika type. In both the case the Jain stands in kāyotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus placed on a pañca-ratha pedestal, with two ungainly looking male caurī-bearers on either side. Among these two one image (Pl.XXXIV.A) is earlier reported (Bhattacharyya, Mitra & Bhowmick 1986: 148) and the image measures 57 cm x 31 cm x 12 cm. The centre of the pañca-ratha pedestal of this image is decorated with a lion i.e. the lāñchana of the Jina placed between ratna-pātra heaped with offering and a male figure beating on drum. Figures of crouching lions can be seen at both the ends of the pedestal. The back-slab is relieved with four miniature Jian figures in kāyotsarga posture, two on either side of the mūla-nāyaka, with their respective lāñchana carved on a small lotus pedestal. Candraprabha on the upper right and Pārśvanātha on the bottom left can be easily identified from their respective cognizances, while the lāñchana of the other two are damaged.

During our recent visit at Pakbirra we documented a new image of Tīrthaṅkara Mahāvīra (Pl.XXXIV.B) which is larger than the earlier image and measures 70 cm x 32 cm x 12 cm. Iconographically as well as stylistically this image is very much similar with the earlier image. The pañca-ratha pedestal of the present image is more decorated than the earlier image. At the centre of the pedestal lion the lāñchana of the Jina placed between ratna-pātra heaped with offering, which is also flanked by two seated devotees in each side with their hands in namaskāra mudrā. The either ends of the pedestal are decorated with two crouching lions. Four miniature Jinas standing in kāyotsarga posture on double-petalled pedestals, two on either side of the Jina is depicted on the back-slab of this image. In both the cases the back throne of the images consists of posts decorated with mouldings and criss-cross scratched pilasters, supporting a horizontal cross-bar with lightly incised square rhizomes at its ends, above which there are triangular fleurons. Like the earlier images, the kevalatrees are also depicted on both sides of the śiraścakras of the present two images and the trilinear chatras are also present. The śiraścakras are flanked on both sides by disembodied hands playing on drums and a vidyādharas holding long garlands and hovering in the clouds.

The site Baramoshya is also possesses a pañca-tīrthika type Tīrthaṅkara Mahāvīra image and it measures 83 cm x 40 cm x 10 cm. This image is highly weathered and lost its iconic details. Iconographically as well as stylistically this image is very much similar with Mahāvīra images reported from Pakbirra. In the preset image lion the lāñchana of the Jina is clearly depicted at the centre of the pañca-ratha pedestal and a seated devotee with their hands in namaskāramudrā seated on the right side of the lion. Both the extreme rathas of the pedestal depict two crouching lions.

A partially damaged Tīrthaṅkara Mahāvīra image is presently display in the Ramkrishna Mission Museum, Purulia. This image was recovered from some area of Purulia and it measures 51 cm x 24 cm x 7 cm. This image is also iconographically similar with the other Mahāvīra images of this variety. An almost plain circular śiraścakra adorns the head of the saviour. Above the śiraścakra a damaged tri-linear chatra is found which is flanked by two vidyādharas (the right one is missing) holding long garlands and just above them are two disembodied hands playing drums. Like the earlier images, the kevala-tree is depicted on both sides of the śiraścakra.

We documented four images of Tīrthaṅkara Mahāvīra of this variety from Bankura district. Among them the site Bhagalpur possesses a good quality image of Tīrthaṅkara Mahāvīra which is presently installed under a tree in this village. This specimen is of blackish stone and measures 49 cm x 29 cm x 9.5 cm. The Jina (Pl.XXXIV.C) is depicted in kāyotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus placed on a pañca-ratha pedestal. The centre of the pedestal bears the figure of a lion, the lāñchana of the Jina. Two crouching lions facing opposite directions are depicted on both sides of the lāñchana besides, seated figures of devotees in dhyāna-mudrā. This sculpture has the usual depictions of the cauri-bearers and the physiognomy of the Jina has already been encountered several times in our cluster. The oval shaped śiraścakra flanked by the kevala-tree and a damaged tri-linear parasol flanked by vidyādharas holding long garlands are noticeable. Four miniature figures of Tīrthaṅkaras in kāyotsarga posture on double-petalled lotus-pedestals having their respective lāñchanas (though indistinct) are also evident.

Kalbhairavtala, of Madanpur/Jaynagar, a local place of worship of this village, has an image of Mahāvīra lying under a tree and the place is scattered with potsherds and other types of objects of folk-cult such as terracotta elephants, horses, Manasaghats (Pots made for Manasā Pujā) etc. The image of Mahāvīra is wellexecuted. The specimen is made of greyish stone and measures 56 cm x 40 cm. The Jain (Pl.XXXIV.D) stands in kāyotsarga pose on a double-petalled lotus and unfortunately the left of the image is lost. The image has a tri-ratha pedestal with a lion carved at its centre. This lāñchana is flanked by two devotees in añjali-mudrā. On either side of the pedestal there is the depiction of a crouching lion. At the extreme ends of the pedestal two devotees in añjali-mudrā are noticeable. The facial expression and coiffure of the Jina and the depictions of the two male cauri-bearers are stylistically similar to the earlier Tīrthaṅkara sculptures. A circular śiraścakra with leafed edges adorns the head of the saviour. Above the śiraścakra is a partially damaged trilinear chatra flanked by two vidyādharas holding long garlands. The Jina figure is flanked by pillar like structural appendages surmounted by triangular entities. The borders of the back-slab are occupied by miniature figures of four Tīrthaṅkaras. They are in kāyotsarga posture on individual double-petalled lotus-pedestals bearing their respective lāñchanas (quite indistinct and therefore difficult to identify them) except the image on the lower left side. This is an image of Pārśvanātha with a sevenhooded snake canopy. The four miniature Tīrthaṅkaras have oval shaped halos and are flanked by pillar like structural entities just like the mūla-nāyaka.

A pañca-tīrthika type of Tīrthaṅkara Mahāvīra is also reported from Patashpur. Though earlier this image was identified as Tīrthaṅkara Ṛṣabhanātha however, during our recent visit at the site we minutely observed the lāñchana of this Jina which is a lion not bull and now we accepted this image as Tīrthaṅkara Mahāvīra. This well executed specimen (80 cm x 40 cm x 8 cm) though damaged, is in kāyotsarga posture on a full bloomed lotus-pedestal. The representation of the lāñchana of this Jina i.e., lion, is depicted between the two figures of devotees on the pedestal. The halo of the image is circular with a slightly tapering upper portion. The other iconographic features are very much similar with the earlier two Mahāvīra images from this district.

The Mahāvīra image from Harmasra is well-executed and closely similar with the others Mahāvīra images of this district. The specimen is made of greyish stone and measures 73 cm x 36 cm. The Jina stands in kāyotsarga pose on a doublepetalled lotus and under triple catra. He has elongated ears and his hair is wellarranged in stylized curls with an uṣṇīṣa. The back slab reveals male caurī-bearers flanking the lord at the lower corners, and twin vidyādharas at the upper, all four carved on a raised back-slab. On the edge of the slab are designed four miniature images of Tīrthaṅkaras in kāyotsarga pose, two on each side of the mūla-nāyaka.

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