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Jain sculptures or Jain idols are the images depicting Tirthankaras (teaching gods). These images are worshiped by the followers of Jainism. The sculpture can depict any of the twenty-four tirthankaras with images depicting Parshvanatha, Rishabhanatha, or Mahāvīra being more popular. Jain sculptures are an example of Jain art.^[1]^[2] There is a long history of construction of Jain sculptures. Early examples include Lohanipur Torsos which has been regarded to be from the Maurya period,^[3] and images from the Kushan period from Mathura.^[4]

Iconography

The Jain idols are males depicted in both sitting and standing postures.^[5] The tīrthaṅkaras are represented either Padmasana (seated in yoga posture) or standing in the Kayotsarga posture.^[6] Parshvanatha statues are usually depicted with a snake crown on head, Bahubali statues are usually depicted covered with creepers.^[7] However, there are a few differences in Digambara and Śvetāmbara depiction of idols.^[5] Digambara images are naked without any beautification whereas Śvetāmbara ones are clothed and decorated with temporary ornaments.^[5]

Jivantasvami

The Jivantasvami images represent Lord Mahavira (and in some cases other Tirthankaras) as a prince, with a crown and ornaments. The Jina is represented as standing in the kayotsarga pose.^[8]^[9]

Ancient sculptures

Gopachal rock-cut Jain monuments (14-15th CE) are images of Jain Tirthankaras carved in the Gopachal Hill, Gwalior in the state of Madhya Pradesh.^[10]^[11]

Bronzes

Various bronze idols of tirthankaras have been discovered in different states. Akota Bronzes and Vasantgarh hoard of Gujarat; Hansi hoard of Haryana, Chausa hoard and Aluara bronzes from Bihar.

In Tamil Nadu

Jainism spread here and there all over Tamil Nadu during Sangam Age. One of the Tamil literature, called Paripadal (பரிபாடல்), probably belongs to 3rd century, mentions that there were propelling statues sculptured in stone for different deities in the temple of God Murugan in Thirupparankundram. One among them was Jain statue. Others are Kaaman-Rathi (the deities of Love), Deity Indra (the king of so-called Heavenly people according to Indian mythology), Agaligai (wife of Saint Gaudham), and Buddha.

Kalugumalai Jain Beds near Madurai belongs to one century latter is to be compared with Thirpparankunram Jain sculpture. In addition a propelling stone statue of a Jain monk mentioned in Tamil literature is also present. Cave inscriptions in Brahmi script of Chera kings in Pugalur probably one century earlier to that of the literature we have taken to our consideration, names some of the Jain Monks vs Yatrur Senkayapan, Pittan, Kotran. Pittan and Kotran are the chieftains of Tamil Nadu also mentioned in Tamil literature more or less to the same period.

In museums

Lohanipur torso found in a central Division of Patna, ancient Pataliputra, dates back to 3rd century BCE.^[12] Some of the oldest Jain sculptures excaved at Kankali Tila are in the Government Museum, Mathura.^[13] Many Jain sculptures are kept in Government Museum, Chennai.^[14]^[15]

The oldest Jain sculpture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is of the Siddha Bahubali.^[16]

Jain vs Buddhist iconography

A Buddhist image can be in one of several mudras. However the Jain tirthankara images can only be in one of the two format. In Padmasana, the statues of a Jina and a Buddha can be similar. The Buddha statue has folds of the cloth on the upperbody, with cloth behind the left arm, where as the Jina statue is without clothes, unless it is a Shwetambara image which shows "kandora" folds.

Toluvila statue Buddha from Anuradhapura, 5th Century CE, Colombo
Lord Neminatha (Akota Bronzes 7th century)
Rishabhanatha 5th Century CE, from Kankali Tila

Chronological Gallery: Kayotsarga Statues

Tirthankara Neminatha Sculpture, National Museum, New Delhi, 11th Century
108 feet (33 m) statue of Tirthankara Rishabhnatha at Palitana
Four Fold Jain Image 1st Century Kankali Tila Mathura
Idol of Bahubali at Shree Pragat Prabhavi Parshwanatha Jinalaya,Dabhoi,Gujarat
Rishabhanatha, Mathura Museum, 6th century
Converted image of Parshvanatha
Suparsvanatha, Norton Simon Museum, c. 900 CE
11th century Tirthankara statue in kayotsarg Mudra found during the excavation at Gambhu

Chronological Gallery: Padmasana Statues

A 10th century CE idol of Parshvanatha from Patan, Gujarat
Rishabhanatha, Parshvanatha, Neminatha, and Mahavira, LACMA, Uttar Pradesh, circa 600
Parshvanatha, Art Institute of Chicago, 6th century
Image of Bade Baba (Rishabhanatha) at Kundalpur
Parshvanatha, 600-700
Neminatha, 7th C, Akota Bronzes
Rishabhanatha, 800-900
Jain tirthankara, Cleveland Museum of Art, 10th century
Idol of Rishabhanatha Decorated with Flowers & Ornaments as per Śvetāmbara Rituals at Kangra Śvetāmbara Jain Tirth