Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Dear Valerie J Roebuck I give below the complete text of Mr s.Theodore Bhaskaran's letter to the Editor The Hindu,14.02.2006: "The two statues in the photograph ..are not that of the Buddha.The Buddha icon will have a robe acrossthe torso and an 'ushnisha' (a flame) on top of the head.These two figures are no doubt two different Jain Tirthankaras, both featured nude.The triple umbrella over one statue and the Lion 'lanchana' on the pedestal of the other clearly show they are tirthankaras.Each tirthankara had a lanchana(sign) ,which is featured below the statue. Because all Tirthankaras are in the nude, it is the lanchana (sign) that would identify the tirthankara.The statue on the left is that of Mahavira , the last of the 24 tirthankaras whose lanchana is the lion.This is clearly featured below the figure.The statue on the left is that of the 22nd tirthankara,Neminatha,whose lanchana , the conch, is featured on the pedestal. It was a common feature in Tamil Nadu to have two or three Tirthankaras in worship at a Jain 'basdi'.(end of letter) The ASI,Chennai(Madras) replied to the above letter ,published in the Hindu on 18.02.2006, reiterating its original stand that 'they are Buddhas', after all. Hari Telicherry Kerala Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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