Jain Tirthankaras Bronze Images

A Jain Tirthankara is a dharma rescuer & spiritual leader in Jainism. The term Tirthankara refers to the creator of such a tirtha, a navigable path through an unending stream of births and deaths known as the samsara. A Jain Tirthankara, as per Jains, is a person who has mastered the samsara, or process of death and resurrection, through their own and paved the way for someone else to pursue. 

Time, according to Jainism, seems to have no start or end. It rotates like a wagon wheel. Utsarpi (rising half of the cycle) & Avasarpi (downward half of the cycle) are the two halves of the circle of time. For each part of such a cycle, 24 Tirthankaras are born. According to Jain’s belief, the Tirthankaras became royalty during their later life, and Jain writings chronicle details of their earlier lives. Their ancestors and relatives have also been mentioned in legends.

Jain Bronze Images

Akota Bronzes

The Akota Bronzes are a unique and significant collection of 68 Jain art discovered in Akota nearby Baroda located in Gujarat between the 6th – 12th centuries AD. It contains rare Gupta era bronzes regularly utilised in Gupta era art comparisons. Akota had been an essential Jain centre throughout the 5th century, according to scriptures. During Gupta, post-Gupta, & mediaeval periods, the trove contains data about metallic art and the evolution of metal technologies.

Two post-Gupta pictures depicting Jain Tirthankaras (one Parsvanatha) have been discovered. On both ends of the dharma chakra, a picture written as gifted by Sadhu Sarvadeva comprises eight upright figures representing all eight planets. Ambika riding a lion with Sarasvati standing are famous images from the same period.

Chausa Hoard

This 18 Jain bronze images collection was the earliest recorded bronze trove unearthed inside the Gangetic valley. This Chausa hoard was named for the town where it was discovered, Chausagarh, within Bihar’s Buxar region.  A Dharmachakra consisting of two yakshas backed by makaras, a kalpavriksha, with 16 Jain Tirthankaras, are among the items in the trove. Their hair strands differentiated Rishabha’s Tirthankaras among some of the Tirthankaras. These bronzes are now on display at the Patna Museum.

Hansi Hoard

Around January 19, 1982, youngsters seeking one ball came into the Hansi hoard by mistake while one of the Jain arts got unearthed. Hansi is a town in Haryana, Hisar region. It had 58 bronze images depicting Jain Tirthankaras within Asirgarh Fort, which paleographical examination indicated from the 8th-9th century; however, none of the pictures is dated. In 1982, an Archaeological Survey in India uncovered the whole trove.

Adinatha, Mallinatha, Chandraprabha, Jina’s parents, Mahavira, Buddha and Sarasvati are among the Jain bronze arts. The depiction of Neminatha sitting in Padmasana posture above yakshi Ambika carrying her child upon that left side flanked by yaksha Gomed representing the consort seated in lalitasana alongside six Tirthankaras in Kayotsarga position is carved on the pedestal. A huge Jain shruti Devi Sarasvati idol is another well-known idol.

Aluara Bronzes

The Alaura Bronzes, also known as Aluara Hoard, are a rare and valuable collection of Jain art discovered in Aluara, Bihar. The 17th tirthankar Kunthunatha’s idol was found in padmasana position with just a goat sign hammered into sinhasan. Ambika, the guardian deity of Neminatha, the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, enthroned in tribhanga with the two sons on lion mount.

Tirthankara Statues

A Jain Tirthankara can be sitting in a lotus position and erect in the meditative position of Khadgasana. If they’re sitting, they’re frequently shown with both legs crossing in front of them, one leg’s toes lying near to the knees, and the dominant wrist in lap and over left. The stance, which is comparable to military stand of attention, is hard to maintain for extended periods and is favoured by Jains since it limits the amount of flesh in touch with the soil, posing a danger to sentient species living in and on the ground.

Except for Parshvanatha, Tirthankara representations lack distinguishing face traits, attire, or haircuts and thus are indicated by the mark or symbol associated with each Tirthankara. On the top of Parshvanath statues is a snake crown. Tirthankara Jain’s bronze art physique has remained remarkably similar throughout historical evidence, spanning over two thousand years. Perhaps more than typical Indian carving, the portrayal is more concerned with sculpting the outside surfaces as large swelling shapes than with the correct representation of the inner muscle and bones. The women’s bodies appear slim, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

Conclusion

Jain Tirthankara Bronze Images are Jain bronze art discovered in hoards in various parts of India. They usually represent the statues of Tirthankaras or deities worshipped in Jainism. Some notable hoards are the Akota Bronzes, Basantgarh Hoard, Hansi Board and the Aluara Bronzes. Bronze is one of the popular metals used to build statues used in these images. 

The Tirthankara Images are depictions of the 24 Tirthankaras in Jainism. Except for Parshvanatha, Tirthankara depictions lack identifying features such as facial features, clothing, or hairstyles and are consequently identifiable by the marking or emblem connected for each tirthankar. A snake crown adorns the Parshvanath sculptures. Over two thousand years of historical data, the body of Tirthankara sculpture has stayed highly consistent. The ladies’ bodies seem thin, with broad shoulders and a slim waist.