Padmaprabha

Height 41.5 cm., Breadth 29 cm.
Peddatumbalam, Bellary District, Karnataka.
Circa 13th Century AD.

     The Sixth Tirthankara Padmaprabha is shown in seated Padmasana Dhyana pose. The Mukkudai is shown over his head. There are floral designs carved on the backdrop. A Yali is at the top of the entire sculpture. His cognisance the red lotus is carved on the middle portion of the pedestal.

    

Mahavira

Height 94 cm., Breadth 49 cm.
Vyasarpadi, Chennai, Tamilnadu.
Circa 10th Century AD.

     This cute sculpture discovered in the Vysarpadi lake is a fine Jain version of the Chola Art School. This sculpture stands out as the best among the Jain sculpture collected so far for the Museum in and around Chennai. The figure of Mahavira Thirathankara is depicted in seated Ardha-Paryakasana posture on a rectangle base. A backrest is also found. Chamara bearers and floral designs are shown as backdrop. The Mukkudai (triple umbrellas) is shown over the head of carved on the front top. Figures of three lions, the lion being the cognisance of Mahavira are carved on the front face of the base. However the most important iconographic feature of this sculpture is the Srivatsa symbol shown on the upper part of the right chest.

    

Mahavira

Height 144 cm., Breadth 128 cm.
Deviagaram, Tirukkoilur, South Arcot District, Tamilnadu.
Circa 10th AD.

     This huge Jain sculpture is one of the best Chola Sculptures of this Museum. The figure of Mahavira is depicted in Ardha-Paryankasana posture on a rectangle base. At the back of the figure of Mahavira is an ornamental backrest with a cylindrical cushion. Two Chamara bearers are shown one on each side. A Bha-Mandala with flames on its outer rim adorns the head of the Tirthankara. Mukkudai is shown over the Bha- Mandala. The branches of a Sala (Shorea Robusta) tree under which Mahavira obtained Kevala-Jnana (Omniscience) is depicted over the Bha-Mandala and Mukkudai. On the pedestal the figure of a lion, the cognisance of Mahavira is carved.