The image of all the sixteen Jain goddesses have been carved in pillared niches and these measures approximately 31" x 25". The goddess are carved with four, six or eight arms and are adorned with huge mukutas or crowns, necklaces, stanaharas, armlets, bracelets, anklets, ear-rings and dhoti. Barring two figures, the goddess always sits in lalitasana on a lotus seat. Her one foot is seen dangling down and the other being tucked up. In each of the images over the head of the goddess a tiny figure of a Jina is visible. Sometimes the images get hiddedn by the crown on her head. The main goddesses are flanked by two female flywhisk bearing attendants. The goddess, is each case, has an ornate halo. Two worshippers are seen sitting close to her feet with their hands folded in prayer. Forms of Iconography of Sixteen Jaina Goddesses There are various forms of Sixteen Jaina Goddesses that have been explained below: A four armed goddess can be seen as the first figure of the southern extremity. It stands in tribhanga posture and holds a disc and a water vessel. Here the goddess cannot be identified. The second rathika is vacant. An eight armed goddess can be seen in the third place. She is seated in lalitasana on a lotus seat. Close to her feet, there appears her vahana, horse. The goddess is seen holding an abhaya mudra, a long object, an arrow, a bow, a staff and a water pot in her hands. She may be identified either with Prajaapti or with Achyuta The rathika bimba of the fourth niche has also disappeared. The fifth niche contains the figure of a six-armed goddess. She is seated in lalitasana under the canopy of a seven hooded cobra. In her two right hands, she holds a lotus and a noose. An image of tortoise can be seen near her seat. On the basis of vahana, she may be identified with Gandhari. Next an eight armed goddess is carved on the sixth rathika. She is also seated in lalitasana on a lotus seat. Her vehicle lion is carved near her. She bears the abhaya mudra, a mace, a trisula, a mongoose, a parasu in her hands. The Swetambara works envisage lion for Mahamanasi as her mount. The goddess cannot be identified. The seventh niche has an eight armed goddess seated in lalila pose on a lotus seat. Her vehicle, makara is carved beneath her feet. In her hands she holds a sula, a vajra, a sword, a shield and a pustaka. As per Swetambara text Mahamanasi is seen riding a makara and holding a sword, a shield, a jewel and the varada mudra in her four hands. The goddess cannot be identified here. In the eighth niche an eight armed goddess is visible who is seated in lalitasana pose on a lotus seat. A bull can be seen sitting near her feet. The goddess wears jata mukuta and holds in her hands a trisula, some weapon, a lotus and a noose. The goddess may represent Gauri. The ninth rathika shelters the figure of a four armed goddess, seated in lalitasana. Her vahana, lion, has been carved below the lotus seat. She holds a manuscript entwined by a lotus in one of her hands. The figure sheltered in the tenth rathika is in ruins. Her eight hands are visible and in one hand she carries a shield. In the eleventh niche the figure of the goddess is in damaged condition. All the eight hands of the goddess are broken. The goddess is seen riding a garuda and wears a garland of snake. On account of the garuda being her vahana, the goddess may be identified as Apratickra. In Swetambara texts she is seen riding a garuda and holding discs. In the twelfth rathika a four armed goddess can be seen standing on a pedestal. Only three of her hands are in surviving condition with which she bears the varada mudra, and in two hands a rolled lotus and a rolled lotus. The goddess remains unidentified. The thirteenth niche houses the figure of an eight armed goddess. She is seated in lalitasana on a lotus seat. Her hands are however damaged. Here the elephant is seen as her vehicle. The goddess may be identified either with Vajrasrnkhala or with Vajrankusa. An eight armed goddess has been carved in the fourteenth niche. She is seated in lalita pose. Here the deer is her conveyance. In her two surviving hands, the goddess bears the abhaya mudra and a shield. The goddess may be identified with Kali because according to Digambara texts Goddess Kali is seen as riding a deer and holding a pestle, a sword, a lotus and a fruit. The figure in the fifteenth niche shows a four-armed goddess, sitting in dhyna mudra on a lotus seat. However, the goddess cannot be identified. The sixteenth rathika houses a figure of an eight armed goddess. She is seated in lalitasana on a lotus seat. Only one hand is preserved that shows the showing the abhaya mudra. Here the vahana is peacock but it is in damaged condition. As per the Digambara texts she is identifies as Jambunada. As per the texts the goddess rides a peacock and bears a sword, a spear, a lotus and a fruit in her hands. |