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??hler, Johann Georg, 1837-1898

"On the Indian Sect of the Jainas"

Jambudvipa-bharata-kshetra.
2. Dhatuki-kha[n.][d.]a purva-bharata.
3. Dhatuki-kha[n.][d.]a pa['s]chima-bharata.
4. Pushkararddha purva-bharata.
5. Pushkaravaradvipa pa['s]chima-bharata.
6. Jambudvipa airavata-kshetra.
7. Dhatuki-kha[n.][d.]a purva-airavata.
8. Dhatuki-kha[n.][d.]a pa['s]chima-airavata.
9. Pushkarardhadvipa purva-airavata.
10. Puskararddha pa['s]chima-airavata.
To each of these is allotted twenty four past, present and future Atits or
Jinas,--making in all 720 of this class, for which they have invented
names: but they are only names. [Footnote: See _Ratnasagara_, bh.
II, pp. 696--705.]
Of the Tirthakaras of the present age or _avasarpini_ in the
Bharata-varsha of Jambudvipa, however, we are supplied with minute
details:--their names, parents, stations, reputed ages, complexions,
attendants, cognizances (_chihna_) or characteristics, etc. and these
details are useful for the explanation of the iconography we meet with in
the shrines of Jaina temples. There the images of the Tirthakaras are
placed on highly sculptured thrones and surrounded by other smaller
attendant figures. In temples of the ['S]vetambara sect the images are
generally of marble--white in most cases, but often black for images of
the 19th, 2Oth, 22nd and 23rd Jinas. On the front of the throne or
_asana_ are usually carved three small figures: at the proper right
of the Jina is a male figure representing the Yaksha attendant or servant
of that particular Jina; at the left end of the throne is the
corresponding female--or Yakshini, Yakshi or ['S]asanadevi; whilst in a
panel in the middle there is often another devi.


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