Planetary Deities type of Pārśvanātha Sculptures

[Full title: Images of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha (4): Planetary Deities type of Pārśvanātha Sculptures]

I have documented nine image of this type of Pārśvanātha images from the study area. Among these images three images are from Purulia, five images are from Bankura and one image from Birbhum.

The site Hatuyara of Purulia district possesses an image of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha (Pl.XXXII.A), which is presently kept at the back of a Śiva temple (Majumder 2010: 22-3). The present image is badly eroded and it measure 85 x 52 x 15 cm. The Jina is in the usual kāyotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus-pedestal placed on a tri-ratha pedestal under a canopy of seven snake hoods. The canopy is minutely carved and in high relief. The Jina is attended by two male caurī-bearers wearing succinct lower garments and ornaments like necklaces, keyura, 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 Jina’s face is more or less damaged. Interestingly, the parasol above the head of the Jina is missing. Both the upper corner of back slab exhibits two flying figures of vidyādharas offering garlands to the Jina. The back throne of the image 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. On the projected part of the back-slab there are eight planetary deities (Joytiska-devas) arranged in a vertical row of four on either side of the Jina. Their depictions are considerably eroded. On the right side of the image, on stele are depicted Sūrya, Maṅgala, Bṛhaspati, Śani, while on the left side are Candra, Budha, Śukra and Rāhu arranged in single file, just to pay reverence. All these figures are depicted seated on high visvapadmas (except Rāhu) and show individual iconographic features. The figures of the eight planetary deities are not possible to study with minute iconic details due to their defaced condition. The tri-ratha pedestal represents male and female donors in añjali mudrā to the right and left respectively in the upper register, while nāgini and nāga figures are depicted in the lower register. Stylistically, the image may be assignable to c. 11th -12^th century CE.

The image of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha of Raksatpura (Pl.XXXII.B) is carved on a local variety of sand stone and measures 128 x 57 x 14.5 cm (Majumder 2014: 56). The present image is highly eroded. The nude Jina is depicted as seated in padmāsana posture on a double-petalled lotus placed on a two tier unusual pedestal and his hands are held in the dhyāna-mudrā gesture indicating meditation. A seven hooded snake canopy, which is quite defaced, provides shelter to the Jina. The finely carved mūla-nāyaka bears a svelte figure, a lucid expression reflecting yogic or spiritual power. The Jina is devoid of any worldly attire, has elongated ear-lobes, and his yogic hair is arranged in schematic curls with a prominent uṣṇiṣa. It is flanked on both sides by stout male caurī-bearers. They wear incised loin cloths and elaborate jewellery and both of them have plain, small oval shaped halos. Obviously, the modulation of surfaces apparent from the drapery and jewellery are restricted to these parikara elements. These caurī-bearers stand on lotus pedestals and their left hands are rested on the thigh (kaṭyāvalambita) and the right hands hold a fly-whisk. On the edges of the back-slab, on a projected frame, are miniature figures of eight planets arranged in a vertical row of four on either side of the Jina. Those on the dexter side appear to be Sūrya, Maṅgala, Bṛhaspati and Śani; while those on the sinister side are Soma, Buddha, Śukra and Rāhu. The eight planetary deities are seated in padmāsana posture and holding their respective attributes in both the hands. The figures of the eight planetary deities are not possible to study with minute iconic details due to their defaced condition. The upper part of the back-slab depicts the usual vidyādhara couple, the prātihāryas of heavenly hands playing on musical instruments and a projected tiered chatra surmounting the almost completely damaged snake-hood. The pedestal of the image is quite unique. The central portion of the pedestal represents a nāga couple with their tails inter-coiled gracefully. At the centre of the pedestal just above the inter-coiled tail section is a tripartite floral motif, looking like a lotus bud, which is flanked by two strands of outward flowing lotus stalks. The nāga couple has a snake canopy over their heads and they are wearing deeply incised loin cloth and elaborate jewellery. The nāga holds a water vessel while the nāgi plays on a musical instrument. A ratna–pātra is depicted below the nāga and nāgī figures. The lower portion of the pedestal is further embellished with a pair of crouching lions placed on either side of the entwined nāgas. The extreme corners of the lower portion of the pedestal depict devotees in namaskāra-mudrā. The central portion of this lower half of the pedestal is decorated with kalaśa and floral motifs. The lower projected portion of the pedestal is decorated with series of floral designs. Stylistically, the image may be assignable to c. eleventh-twelfth century C.E. As a whole, the present image of Pārśvanātha is unique and rare and most probably represents an installed deity. The scattered architectural fragments suggest that there must have been a Jain temple at the site during the early medieval period. A noteworthy feature of the present image is the presence of eight planetary deities. Other seated Jain Tīrthaṅkara images of the present study area do not bear these eight planetary deities. The context of the sculpture and structural remains suggests the previous existence of a Jain establishment in this village.

Only the lower portion of a Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha (Pl.XXXII.C) image of this variety is presently worshipped in a modern temple of Pakbirra. It reveals the Jina standing in stiff kāyotsarga posture on a lotus seat placed on a sapta-ratha pedestal. He is attended by two male caurī-bearers wearing succinct lower garments and ornaments comprising of necklaces, keyūras, kuṇḍala, bangle and a conical crown. A nāga couple with their tails inter-coiled springs gracefully and rhythmically from the central projection of the pedestal just below the feet of the Jina. The nāga holds a water-vessel while the nāgi plays on a musical instrument. The pedestal is further embellished with a pair of crouching lions placed on either side of the entwined nāga coil, while a tiny little figure of a devotee in namaskāra occupies one of the facets of the lower most ledges. Two mutilated figures of planets on the edge of the back-slab suggests the parikara once contained the full appendage of Jyotiskadevas. The caurī-bearers and the nāga couple betray the height of perfection an artist could achieve in Tīrthaṅkara figures.

I have documented a beautiful image of Pārśvanātha (Pl.XXXII.D) from Layek Para, is one of the artistically the finest specimen ever found in Bankura. It is made of blackish stone, probably chlorite and measures 125 cm x 60 cm. The mūlanāyaka stands in kāyotsarga pose on a double-petalled lotus pedestal under the usual canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. The lord has curly hair with uṣṇiṣa and is accompanied on both sides by gracefully adorned caurī-bearers. Unfortunately the heads of the caurī-bearers are badly damaged. A nāga-couple with their tails entwined, the male with arms folded in namaskāra mudrā and the female holding a musical instrument, is shown beside the attendants of the Jina. Apart from the usual attributes what is significant in this image is the depiction of the eight planetary deities on the projected section on the edges of the back-slab. The planetary deities are seated on double-petalled lotus pedestals depicting their respective attributes. Sūrya, Maṅgala, Bṛhaspati and Śani are on the right side of the Jina while on the left are Soma/Candra, Budha, Śukra and Rāhu.

Simlar type of an image of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha was notice from the Harmasra.The large image of Pārśvanātha (Pl.XXXII.E), is made of blackish stone, probably chlorite and measures 142 cm x 70 cm. Pārśvanātha, the mūla-nāyaka, stands in kāyotsarga pose on a double-petalled lotus pedestal under the usual canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. The lāñchanas or the emblems of the Jina are neatly carved on the frontal part of the pedestal. The sensitively modelled Jina has elongated ear-lobes, pronounced protruding eye-balls; his coiffure is arranged in schematic curls with a prominent uṣṇiṣa or cranial protuberance. On the edge of the back-slab eight planetary deities are arranged in vertical rows of four figures on either side. Those on his right side appear to be Sūrya, Maṅgala, Bṛhaspati and Śani, while those on the left are Soma/Candra, Budha, Śukra and Rāhu. The lord is accompanied on both sides by gracefully adorned caurī-bearers. A nāga-couple with their tails entwined, the male with arms folded in namaskāra mudrā and the female holding a musical instrument, is shown beside the attendants of the Jina. So far as its execution goes, the image may be of c. tenth century CE.

One of the finest specimens of Pārśvanātha image is reported from the Bahulara temple of Bankura (Chattopadhyay 2010.199). At present this image is presently worshipped as a Brahmanical deity. It is placed in the garbhagṛha of the temple behind the installed Śiva liṅga. In this specimen, the Jina stands in kāyotsarga posture on a double-petalled lotus placed on a tri-ratha pedestal. A nāga couple with their inter-coiled tails springs gracefully almost rhythmically from the centre projection of the pedestal just below the feet of the Jina. The nāga holds a watervessel while the nāgi plays on a musical instrument. The centre of the pedestal has a maṅgala-kalasa. A seven-hooded snake canopy protects the head of the Jina. Above the snake canopy is a tri-linear parasol. On either side of the parasol are the usual vidyādharas. Just below the parasol a pair of drums struck by disembodied hands is noticeable. The facial expression and the pronounced protruding eye-balls render the Jina a unique stylistic status. The deity is flanked by his two male attendants or caurībearers. Their left hands are in kaṭyāvalambita posture and the right hands hold flywhisks. The back-slab is bordered by the depictions of eight planetary deities i.e. on his right side appear to be Sūrya, Maṅgala, Bṛhaspati and Śani, while those on the left are Soma/Candra, Budha, Śukra and Rāhu. These planetary deities are seated and have oblong pravāmaṇḍalas. Stylistically, the image is assignable to circa tentheleventh centuries CE.

A highly weathered image of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha is presently kept in the modern temple of Biharinatha Hill. This image is under worshiped and as a result of this image lost its iconic details. The mūla-nāyaka, stands in kāyotsarga pose on a double-petalled lotus pedestal under the usual canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. The Jina flanked by the caurī-bearers and the on the edge of the back-slab eight planetary deities are arranged in vertical rows of four figures on either side. A damaged image of this variety of Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha is noticed in the sculptural ruins of Moulbana village. Only the back-slab of the image is remaining and it exhibits the representation of eight planetary deities. All the deities are seated in usual posture and holding their own attributes.

A damaged image of Pārśvanātha (Pl.XXXII.F) is found installed in the sculptural ruins of Ghurisha village of Birbhum. The lower portion of the image is lost and the remaining portion of the image is measures 43 x 32 x 10 cm. In this image Tīrthaṅkara Pārśvanātha stands in kāyotsarga pose under the usual canopy of a seven-hooded serpent. The lord has an uṣṇiṣa and has elongated ear-lobes. On the edges of the back-slab, miniature figures of eight planets arranged in a vertical row of four on either side of the Jina. Those on the dexter side appear to be Sūrya, Maṅgala, Bṛhaspati and Śani; while those on the sinister side are Soma, Buddha, Śukra and Rāhu. The eight planetary deities are seated in their respective posture and holding their respective attributes in both the hands. The upper part of the back-slab depicts the usual vidyādhara, the prātihāryas of heavenly hands playing on musical instruments and a projected chatra surmounting the almost completely damaged snake-hood. The face and the other details of the image are badly weathered.