Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/101

 CHAP. V. BETTAS. 73 moved certainly to the place where it now stands, and its date luckily is engraved upon it, A.D. 1432. The third at Yenur or Venur, also in. south Kanara, is smaller, about 35 ft. high apparently, 1 and is the latest of the three, having been erected in 1604 (Woodcut No. 301). All these three figures belong to the Digambara sect of Jains, being entirely naked; and all possess the peculiarity of hav- ing twigs or creeping plants twisted round their arms and legs, in the manner found in the cave-tern pies, and in having serpents at their feet. In the Jaina cave at Badami a similar figure has two creeping plants wound round its arms and legs precisely as these twigs are here, and serpents at his feet, while the Diksha or Bo-tree is relegated to the background. 2 This figure, though possibly not so old as the cave in which it is found say A.D. 600 is much older than the three great monoliths, but represents the same individual the ideal ascetic who stood in meditation until the ant-hills arose at his feet and creeping plants grew round his limbs. This Gomata, Gummata, or Dorbali has no prominent place in the Swetambara pantheon, though Panywanath is, with them, occasionally repre- sented in a similar position. 3 301. Colossal Statue at Yenur." (From a Photograph.) 1 Moor's ' Hindu Pantheon,' plate 73 ; 'Indian Antiquary/ vol. v. p. 37. 2 'Archaeological Survey of Western India,' vol. i. p. 25, plate xxxvii. 3 Nearly all the Tirthankaras are said to ha. ve attained bliss (moksha) in this position called Kayotsarga. In the Swetambara temples standing figures of Jinas are often placed on each side of the principal image and in Gujar^ti are known as " Kalisagiyas," that is figures in the KSyotsarga nrndra.