“The
ruined Jain temple situated in the western portion of MaheTh… derives the
name ‘Sobhnãth’ from Sambhavanãtha, the third TîrthaMkara,
who is believed to have been born at Šrãvastî…8
“Let
us now turn our attention to the western-most part of Sobhnãth ruins.
It is crowned by a domed edifice, apparently a Muslim tomb of the Pathãn
period…9
“These remains
are raised on a platform, 30’ square, built mostly of broken bricks including
carved ones… This platform, no doubt, represents the plinth of the
last Jain temple which was destroyed by the Muhammadan conquerors… It
will be seen from the plan that the enclosure of the tomb overlaps this
square platform. The tomb proper stands on a mass of debris which
is probably the remains of the ruined shrine…10
“3. Sculpture…
of buff standstone, partly destroyed, representing a TîrthaMkara
seated cross-legged in the attitude of meditation on a throne supported
by two lions couchant, placed on both sides of a wheel…
“4. Sculpture…
of buff sandstone, partly defaced, representing a TîrthaMkara
seated cross-legged (as above)…
“8. Sculpture…
of buff sandstone, defaced, representing a TîrthaMkara standing
between two miniature figures of which that to his right is seated.
“9. Sculpture…
of buff standstone, defaced, representing a TîrthaMkara, standing
under a parasol…
“12. Sculpture…
of buff standstone, much defaced, representing a male and a female
figure seated side by side under a palm tree.
“13.
Sculpture… of buff standstone, broken in four pieces, and carved
with five figurines of TîrthaMkaras… seated cross-legged in the attitude
of meditation. The central figure has a Nãga hood. The sculpture
evidently was the top portion of a large image slab.”11
Coming to the
ruins of a Buddhist monastery in the same complex, the archaeologist proceeds:
“In the 23rd cell,
which I identify with the store-room, I found half-buried in the floor
a big earthen jar… This must have been used for storage of corn…
“This cell is
connected with a find which is certainly the most notable discovery of
the season. I refer to an inscribed copper-plate of Govindachandra of Kanauj…
The charter was issued from Vãrãnasî on Monday, the
full moon day of ÃshãDha Sam. 1186, which… corresponds to
the 23rd of June, 1130. The inscription records
the grant of six villages to the ‘Community of Buddhist friars of whom
Buddhabhattãraka is the chief and foremost, residing in the great
convent of the holy Jetavana,’ and is of a paramount importance, in as
much as it conclusively settles the identification of MaheTh with the city
of Šrãvastî…”12
He describes as follows some of the
sculptures unearthed at SrAvastI:
“S.1. Statuette
in grey stone… of Buddha seated cross-legged in the teaching attitude on
a conventional lotus. The head, breast and fore-arms as well as
the sides of the sculpture are broken.
“S.2. Lower portion…
of a blue schist image of Avalokitešvara in the sportive attitude (lîlãsana)
on a lotus seat.
“S.
3. Image… of Avalokitešvara seated in ardhaparyanka attitude on a conventional
lotus… The head and left arms of the main figure are missing.”13
Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh)
The
report of excavations undertaken in 1904-05 says that “the inscriptions
found there extending to the twelfth century A.D. show that the connection
of Sarnath with Buddhism was still remembered at that date.” It continues
that “the condition of the excavated ruins leaves little doubt that a violent
catastrophe accompanied by willful destruction and plunder overtook the
place.”14 Read this report with the Muslim
account that Muhammad GhurI destroyed a thousand idol-temples when he reached
Varanasi after defeating Mahãrãjã Jayachandra of Kanauj
in 1193 A.D. The fragments that are listed below speak for themselves.
The number given in each case is the one adopted in the report of the excavation.
a 42. Upper part of sculptured slab…
E.8. Architectural fragment, with Buddha (?) seated cross-legged on lotus…
a.22. Defaced standing Buddha, hands missing.
a.17. Buddha head with halo.
a. 8. Head and right arm of image.
E.22. Upper part of image.
E.14. Broken seated figure holding object in left hand.
a.11. Fragment
of larger sculpture; bust, part of head, and right overarm of female chauri-bearer.
E.25. Upper part of female figure
with big ear-ring.
E.6. Fragment of sculpture, from top of throne (?) on left side.
n.19. Seated figure of Buddha in bhûmisparšamudrã, much defaced.
n.221. Torso, with arms of Buddha in dharmachakramudrã.
n.91. Lower part of Buddha seated cross-legged on throne. Defaced.
n.142. Figure of Avalokitešvara in relief. Legs from knees downwards wanting.
n.1. Relief
partly, defaced and upper part missing. Buddha descending from the TrãyastriMšã
Heaven Head and left hand missing.
i.50. Lower half of statue. Buddha
in bhûmisparšamudrã seated on lotus.
i.17. Buddha in attitude of meditation on lotus. Head missing.
i.46. Head of Buddha with short curls.
i.44. Head of Avalokitešvara, with Amitãbha Buddha in headdress.
n.10. Fragment of three-headed figure (? Mãrîchî) of green stone.
i.49. Standing
figure of attendant from upper right of image. Half of face, feet and left
hand missing.
i.1. Torso of male figure, ornamented.
i.4. Female figure,
with lavishly ornamented head. The legs from knees, right arm and left
forearm are missing. Much defaced.
i.105. Hand holding Lotus.
n.172. Torso of Buddha.
n.18. Head of Buddha, slightly defaced.
n.16. Female figure, feet missing.
n.97. Lower part of female figure. Feet missing.
n.163. Buddha, seated. Much defaced.
K.4. Fragment of seated Buddha in blue Gayã stone.
K.5. Fragment
of large statue, showing small Buddha seated in bhûmisparšamudrã
K.18. Fragment of statue in best
Gupta style.
J.S.18. 27 and 28. Three Buddha heads of Gupta style.
J.S.7. Figure of Kubera in niche, with halo behind head. Partly defaced.
r.67. Upper part of male figure, lavishly adorned.
r.72. a and b. Pieces of pedestal with three Buddhas in dhyãnamudrã.
r.28. Part of
arm, adorned with armlet and inscription in characters of 10th century,
containing Buddhist creed.
B.22. Fragment
of Bodhi scene (?); two women standing on conventional rock. Head and right
arm of left hand figure broken.
B.33. Defaced sitting Buddha in dhyãnamudrã.
B.75. Lower part of Buddha in bhûmisparšamudrã seated cross-legged on lotus.
B.40. Feet of Buddha sitting cross-legged on lotus on throne.
B.38. Headless
defaced Buddha seated cross-legged on lotus in dharmachakramudrã.
Y.24. Headless Buddha stated cross-legged
on throne in dharmachakramudrã.
B.52. Bust of Buddha in dharmachakramudrã. Head missing.
B.16. Standing Buddha in varadamudrã; hands and feet broken.
Y.34. Upper part of Buddha in varadamudrã.
B.24. Bust of standing Buddha in abhayamudrã; left hand and head missing.
B.31. Defaced standing Buddha in abhayamudrã. Head and feet missing.
B.48. Feet of standing Buddha with red paint.
B.15. Lower part of AvalokiteSvara seated on lotus in lîlãsana.
Y.23. Bust of figure seated in lîlãsana with trace of halo.
B.59. Legs of figure sitting cross-legged on lotus.
B.7. Female bust with ornaments and high headdress. Left arm and right forearm missing.15
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