Jaina Sculptures of Odisha in Foreign Museums

The Jaina artifacts are found preserved in several European Museums and are considered to be the moving ambassadors of the ancient Indian art and culture in the countries in which they are housed^[1].

Musee Guimet, Paris

There is an important collection of artifacts from India and other South East Asian Countries in this Museum, which is located in the center of Paris. The best specimen of Jaina sculptures are come here from Bergrann (Afghanistan) made of Marbles. Besides, an image of Risabhanatha belonging to the eastern Ganga rulers, come from Odisha in which the Jina is shown standing in kayotsargamudra^[2]. His head is adorned with jatamukuta and the lock of hair fall up to the shoulders. He stands over a lotus pedestal below which a bull as his vehicle is depicted. Besides, trilinear chatra, kevala tree, astagrahas and flying garland bearers appears on both the sides of the image in their respective positions. The chauri-bearers stand at the level of the feet. A circular prabhavali appears behind the head of the Jina.

British Museum, London

Four images from Odisha belonging to the eastern Ganga tradition, which were taken out of India in nineteenth century, now form part of the famous Bridge collection of the Department of Oriental Antiquities in the British Museum^[3].

A carved stone image depicts nude Risabhanatha and Mahavira^[4], (Pl.XCIVA) standing side by side in kayotsargamudra. Risabha has a high jata-mukuta arranged into spiral curls and surrounded by a cranial protuberance. The Tirthankaras have elongated ears, long cylindrical arms reaching down to the knees and well proportioned body. The eyes are down cast which reveal serenity and compassion. A couchant bull, the symbol of Risabha, and a lion, the symbol of Mahavira, are depicted over the pedestal, with the tiny figure of Indra mounted on elephant, besides the donor couple. The image belongs to the11^th century CE.

An image of Parsvanatha depicts the Jina standing in kayotsargamudra against the coils of the serpent, with its seven hoods above his heavily modelled limbs. The hair of the deity is arranged in spiral curls and has a usnisa over his head. The Jina is flanked by a chauri-bearers and astagrahas (four on each side) on either side. The image dates back to the 12^th century CE.

Another contemporary image of Parsvanatha also preserved here, though damaged slightly, is a fine sculpture and shows a beautiful modelling of the central figure standing against the horizontally arranged coils of serpent in the back ground Ambika^[5], the popular goddess is shown seated under a mango tree, standing gracefully in a flexed posture, with a miniature figure of Neminatha shown above (Pl.XCIVB). Creepers with monkeys are shown on either side of the

goddess. She wears a chignon, a broad necklace and an uttariya covering her left breast and passing under her right arm. The transparent sari reaches up to the knees and is secured with a jeweled mekhala. Her elder son stands to her right trying to pluck mango from the branch of the tree, while held by the goddess in her right hand. The younger son is supported by her with her left hand. A couchant lion and a figure of a donor appear over the pedestal. The image belongs to the 11^th century CE.

Victoria and Albert Museum, London

There is also a stone sculpture of Ambika from Odisha^[6], in which she is shown seated over a double petalled lotus with her left leg folded and the right one hanging down. She wears all the ornaments and a tiny figure of Neminatha appears over the top.

Table No.1: Table Showing Jaina Sculptures of Odisha in Foreign Museums

Sl. No	Jaina Image		Present Location	Collected From	Date	Remarks
01	Risabhanatha		Musee Guimet, Paris	Odisha	Eastern Ganga	Standing in kayotsvarga mudra with jatamukuta and lanchana bull is depicted at the pedestal
02	i	Risabhanatha and Mahavira,	British Museum, London	Odisha, now form part of the famous Bridge collection of the Department of Oriental Antiquities in the British Museum.	11th Century CE	Besides lanchana of both the Tirthankaras, an image of indra mounted over elephant is seen
	ii	Parsvanatha			12th Century CE	Standing Parsvanatha image with usual serpent hood over his head
	iii	Parsvanatha			12th Century CE	Parsvanatha mage in kayotsarga posture with usual serpent hood over his head
	iv	Ambika			11th Century CE	Depicted along with Neminatha and his two sons.
03	Ambika		Victoria and Albert Museum, London	Odisha		Depicted along with Neminatha

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

S. Nagar, Jaina Sculptures in Indian and World Museums, New Delhi, 2000, pp.165-183.

[2]:

Ibid., p.165.

[3]:

Ibid., pp.165-183.

[4]:

P. Pal, Jaina Art from India, London, 1995 p.175.

[5]:

Ibid., p. 177.

[6]:

S. Nagar, op. cit., 2000.