1840.] 



Note on the defaced Statues of the Jains, 



309 



follow the imperfect models of their early artisfs, and grace and feel- 

 ing were for ever prevenred fiom forming a feature of their S'^ulpture: 

 and though tbey made great progress in other branches of art, though 

 they evinced considerahle taste in the forms of their vasec, their furni- 

 ture, and even in some architectural details, they were for ever deficient 

 jn the combination of ideal beauty with the natural position of parts 

 in the human figure. One great impediment to the advancement of 

 the statuary's art in Egypt, was the unvarying posture of the figures, 

 which were always in a state of repose, or in a position that only re- 

 quired the limbs to be straight, without any attempt at action, or in- 

 deed any indication of life : " all was made to conform to the same 

 invariable model, which confined the human figure to a few conven- 

 tional postures." Such are a few points of resemblance common to the 

 productions of Jaina and Egyptian statuaries ; w^hich, had not a vile 

 superstition pressed like an incubus on their rising improvement, would 

 have anticipated in excellence and beauty the most exquisite sculp- 

 tures of Greece. The Jaina statue now presented, was taken from the 

 ruins of Bijanngger, and is doubtless that of Pareswanath from the 

 attitude, contour, and serpent folds behind the back of the image. 

 Paresicanaih is the 23d T/rt'hanJcar of Jaina mythology, and is often 

 represented with the cobra di capello canopying his head with its 

 extended hood : not as a symbol of eternity, but from some cir- 

 cumstance connected with the history of this saint, recorded in his 

 pura'7ia. 



Subjoined is a list of Jaina MSS., now extant in the peninsula: which, 

 if not already before the public, or among the Mackenzie papers, it 

 would be advisable to procure copies of. The list was given me by a 

 Jaina priest of Tahcota, in the jaghire of the Mahratta chief, Rastia. 



1st. The Siddhanta Sastra which proceeded from the mouth of Jr* 

 £?raa?/i himself, the first of the last twenty four Tirt*hanl-ars, written 

 by Gautatri 'Muni, in the Ghata Bhasa, and afterwards compiled in Sans- 

 crit, Canarese and Mahratta. This is considered the most sacred of 

 their books. 



2d. The Siddhanta Purana. 



3d. Naga Komara. 



4th. Herri Wemshu. 



5th. The twenty-four Purinas, of the twenty-four last TirCJmn* 

 liars. 



6th. The Jaina version of the Ramayana. 

 7th. Vijaleng Purana. 



8th. The Manter or St'hoter of Bhagwant, the Jaina ritual. 



