Single depiction of Mahāvīra sculptures

[Full title: Tīrthaṅkara Mahāvīra (1): Single depiction of Mahāvīra sculptures]

In this variety of sculptural specimen we have documented one seated image of this Tīrthaṅkara from Baramoshya. The Jina seated in padmāsana (Pl.XXXIII.D) with his hands in dhyāna-mudrā on a full blown mahambujapīṭha having a base comprising of five squat supports on which are carved indistinct objects and it measures 63 cm x 40 cm x 20cm. The lion, i.e. the lāñchana of the Jina is depicted on the centre of the pedestal flanked by two crouching. On the either side of the Tīrthaṅkara, stand male caurī-bearers wearing short lower garments and plain jewellery. The Jina sits under a projected trilinear chatra slightly damaged at the front. He has elongated ear-lobes and his hair is arranged in schematic curls with as uṣṇiṣa. Due to erosion it is very difficult for us to study the iconic as well as stylistic details of the mūla-nāyaka. A śiraścakra gracefully rimmed with rows of leaves and pear like beads surrounds his head. The prabhāvalī is generously decorated with floral scrolls and creepers. Both the corners of the upper portion of the back–slab adorns with disembodied hands playing on drums and a vidyādhara holding long garlands and hovering in the clouds. This is the only seated icons of this Tīrthaṅkara so far discovered from ancient Bengal.

The site Golamara possesses a magnificent image of Mahāvīra (161 cm x 33 cm) which is one of the largest Tīrthaṅkara images so far reported from ancient Bengal. In this image, the Jain stands in the kāyotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus placed on a tri-ratha pedestal (Pl.XXXIIII.E). The back-slab and the hands of the Jina are broken and only the tips of fingers are attached to the body of the sculpture. The matted locks of hair with pronounced uṣṇiṣa, elongated ear-lobs and straight, big drooping eyes are his chief marks of identification. The hair of the Tīrthaṅkara is arranged in short schematic curls which represents the circular form of the universe (loka) as well its continuity. He is attended by two stiff and robust looking cauri-bearers, profusely bejewelled, with their left hands in kaṭyāvalambita posture and the right hands hold fly-whisks. They are wearing short, almost transparent, lower garments and simple ornaments including armlets, wristlets and ekavali. On the two tiered tri-ratha pedestal, lions are carved on the upper register. On lower register, from right to left, kneeling male devotee with folded hands, lions, his cognizance and kneeling female devotee with folded palms are beautifully carved. The pedestal also has a short inscription; however, it is very difficult to us to decipher this inscription.

A highly eroded image of Tīrthaṅkara Mahāvīra was reported from the site Suisa (Chakrabarti 1993: 126). The image (Pl.XXXIII.F) made of chlorite stone and measures 70 cm x 40 cm x 10 cm. In this image the Jina is shown as installed within shrine which is fronted by a trefoil arch and surmounted by a curvilinear śikhara of the nāgara order. The Jina stands in kāyotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus placed on a sapta-ratha pedestal. The Jina is flanked on both sides by stout and partially damaged male cauri-bearers. These cauri-bearers stand in ābhaṅga pose and hold a fly-whisk in their right hands and their left hands are in kaṭyāvalambita posture. The edge of the back–slab is relieved the gajaśārdūla on the both side. At the centre of the sapta-ratha pedestal a lion is present which is flanked by one kneeling devotees in namaskāra-mudrā on both the sides. Stylized representations of crouching lions occupies the both the extreme end of the pedestal.

A Mahāvīra image of this variety is also reported from the site Namokechanda of Bankura district. The image measures 63 cm x 31 cm. The mūlanāyaka stands in kāyotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus placed on a pañcaratha pedestal. The lion lāñchana is neatly carved on the centre of the pedestal along with two devotees in namaskāra mudrā (folded hands). At the ends of the pedestal, a crouching lion is depicted. The Jina stands under a trefoil arch surmounted by a threetiered chatra. A circular śiraścakra with leafed edges is adorning the head of the savior. Two twigs, each consisting of two leaves and a triple flower, are issuing from the upper part of the śiraścakra on either side. On either side of the śiraścakra on the back-slab are figures of vidyādharas holding long garlands. The representation of the heavenly hands playing a drum is present. The Jina is attended by two stiff and robust looking caurī bearers, profusely bejewelled, with their outer hands in kaṭyavalambita posture and their inner hands holding cāmaras. The back-slab of this image is completely plain and without decoration.