Santinatha image at Khandeswara Temple, Nasik

The temple Khandeswara is situated at the outskirt of the village Nasik, 11km north-east of Dihasahi Chhaka in the Jagatsinghpur-Machhagaon Road. The present temple was constructed over an ancient temple belong to the Somavamsis period^[1]. The present temple has a rekha vimana and jagamohana having thick coats of lime plaster on the wall surface. Besides, Brahmanical and Buddhist sculpture, a beautiful image of Santinatha (Pl.XLIB) is noticed at the one of the inner niches of jagamohana.

The image of Santinatha^[2] (96x48x15cm) is carved standing on a double petalled lotus pedestal below which his lanchana deer is visible in front of a kneeling devotee in anjali-hasta. The two chauri bearers standing on elephant backs flank the Tirthankara on the sides and above them the astagrahas are depicted (four on each side) in yogasana, displaying conventional attributes in their hands. The kevala tree and the sacred umbrella at the top are flanked by flying figures with garlands and invisible gandharvas playing cymbals and drums in their palms. Face of the Tirthankara and heads of the two chauri bearers are partially disfigured. The vacant space below pedestal is filled with lotus stalks.