Digambara Jaina Tirthankaras From Maheshwarand Nevasa

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text from "Digambara Jaina Tirthankaras from Maheshwar and Nevasa" by H. D. Sankalia:

The text discusses archaeological findings related to Digambara Jain Tirthankara images at two locations in India: Maheshwar and Nevasa.

Maheshwar:

• Location: Maheshwar is a town on the northern bank of the Narmada River, south of Indore.
• "Gufa (Cave of Bhartshari)": The author investigated a site known as the "Gufa" which, contrary to its name, was found to be a submerged temple. The temple is situated on an ancient mound dating back to the 3rd century B.C. or earlier.
• Dating of the Temple: Architectural features, particularly a prabhāvali (halo) carved in the form of a torana (archway), suggest the temple might have been built during the Paramāra period, around 1100 A.D. This is further supported by comparisons with similar toranas found in Gujarat dating to the time of Siddharāja Jayasimha and his successors.
• The Figure: Within one of the temple's niches, a large, nude, standing male figure was discovered. The figure's head and face were anciently broken and have been replaced with a different one. Although it is worshipped locally as Raja Bhartrihari, the author identifies it as a Digambara Jaina Tirthankara in the Kāyotsarga pose (standing with arms at the sides).
• Identification Challenges: Due to the absence of the characteristic lāñchana (emblem) and vāhana (vehicle), as well as the attendant Yakshas and Yakshinis, it's impossible to identify the specific Tirthankara.
• Significance: The presence of this image indicates that a significant Jain temple, likely from the 12th century, once stood on the banks of the Narmada.

Nevasa:

• Location: Nevasa is another ancient and holy town situated on both banks of the Pravara River, north of Ahmadnagar. The older part is Nevasa Budruk (north), and the newer part is Nevasa Khurd (south). Its recorded antiquity goes back to the time of Sri Jnanesvara (A.D. 1290).
• Findings: Pillars, capitals, door-frames, and medieval-period images are found scattered throughout the town, often neglected.
• The Images: On the riverbank in Nevasa Budruk, the author found two stone images of Jaina Tirthankaras. Although the lower parts of both are broken, the upper part of one clearly shows a canopy of seven cobra hoods, allowing its identification as Tirthankara Parsvanatha (the 23rd Tirthankara). Both figures were in the Kāyotsarga pose.
• Digambara Affiliation: Both the Maheshwar and Nevasa images are confirmed to be Digambara.
• Historical Context: The patronage of Digambara Jainism by dynasties like the Western Chalukyas, Rastrakutas, Hoysalas, and Yadavas is mentioned. Since structural Jain monuments from the earlier dynasties are not well-known in the Deccan, the Nevasa images are likely from the medieval period (after 1000 A.D.).
• Flourishing Digambara Jainism: The existence of Digambara Jain caves at Tringalvadia and Chandora in the Nasik district, possibly from the early Yadava period, suggests that Digambara Jainism was thriving in the Deccan during this era. The Nevasa figures are therefore attributed to this period.

In essence, the text by H. D. Sankalia provides archaeological evidence for the presence and importance of Digambara Jainism in the Maheshwar and Nevasa regions during the medieval period, highlighting specific Tirthankara images that contribute to our understanding of Jain art and history in the Deccan.