History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c47.35

v2.c47.35

Before tackling the general question of Hindu images and sculptures we must turn for a minute towards early Jaina sculptures. Early mediaeval Jaina images are rather rare in Orissa. The best known examples are rock-cut figures. One such is a standing image of Rishabhanātha in the cave now called Lalatendu Keśari's cave. In general Jaina images, later than the Gupta period, are very difficult to judge. This Digambara image standing in the stereotyped *Kāyotsarga* posture is unnatural and disproportionate, but Jaina canons demand that the hands and the ears should be unnaturally long and the posture should be that of a soldier standing at attention. The face is mutilated and therefore the expression cannot be judged. This cave was excavated in the fifth year of the little known king Udyotakeśari.¹ We are more fortunate in the case of the series of figures in the Bāra-bhuji cave, where, though no dated inscription is available, the sculptures are in better preservation. The twenty-four *Tirthankaras* of the present *Kalpa* are arranged in a row along the upper part of the rear and side walls, with an umbrella on the head of each and below the lotus throne, the *Lānchhana*, *Vriksha* of each. Under each *Tirthankara*, separated by a broad plain band, is the *Śāsana-devi* of each. The sculptures generally agree in character with the "C" period of Buddhist sculpture and appear to belong to the late 9th or the early 10th century A. D.