Akota Bronzes

2021-09-10T00:51:27Z

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{{short description|set of Jain sculptures}}
{{infobox artwork
| title = Akota Bronzes
| italic title = no
| pushpin_map = India Gujarat#India
| map_dot_label = Akota
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Gujarat]]##Location in India
| image = MET - Neminatha Akota.jpg
| caption = Lord [[Neminatha]], [[Metropolitan Museum of Art|MET museum]], 7th century
| year = 6th century - 12th century
| medium = [[Bronze]]
}}
[[File:National Museum - Parsvanatha 9C (2).jpg|thumb|Lord [[Parsvanatha]], [[National Museum, New Delhi]], 9th century.]]
The '''Akota Bronzes''' represent a rare and important set of 68 [[Jain]] images, dating to between the 6th and 12th centuries AD, which were found in the vicinity of [[Akota]] near [[Baroda]] in the Indian state of [[Gujarat]]. It includes rare [[Gupta period]] bronzes that have been widely used for comparison of Gupta period art.{{Sfn|Pereira|1977|p=12}}{{sfn|Guy|2012}}

Akota (formerly Ankottaka) was a major centre of [[Jainism]] in the 5th century AD and is mentioned in texts.<ref>Akota Bronzes, Bombay State Board for Historical Records and Ancient Monuments, Archaeological Series. no. 1. Umakant Premanand SHAH, 1959</ref> The hoard provides information on metallic art and development of metal technology during [[Gupta]], post-Gupta and medieval period.

==Discovery==
The images were dug out sometime before June 1951. A University of Baroda professor brought five of them to archaeologist U.P. Shah for examination. U.P. Shat eventually purchased most of the images from local individuals and presented them to M.S. University, which are now in the Baroda Museum.
[[File:Tirthankara, India, Akota, Gujarat, 7th century, bronze, HAA.JPG|thumb|7th-century [[Tirthankar]] image, Akota, at [[Honolulu Academy of Arts]]]]

Only two of the images are dated. U.P. Shah dated the rest of them on palaeographic basis. They range from the 5th to 12th centuries. They may have belonged to the Vasatika of Arya Rath established in Kshatrapa era. None of the images date after 1100 AD, suggesting that they were buried for safeguarding broke the invasion of Gujarat by Alap Khan, a general of Alauddin Khalji.<ref>Akota Bronzes, Bombay State Board for Historical Records and Ancient Monuments, Archaeological Series. no. 1. Umakant Premanand SHAH, 1959</ref>

==Major images ==
Two images of [[Jivantasvami]], (representation of [[Mahavira]] who was still a prince), are widely mentioned examples of the early western Indian school of art. One of them is specifically inscribed as jivantsvami installed by Nagisvari, which represents early phase of the Gupta style.

Two images of [[Tirthankara]] (one of [[Parsvanatha]]) are from the post-Gupta period. An image inscribed as donated by Sadhu Sarvadeva include eight standing figures representing the eight planets, on both sides of the [[dharmachakra]]. Notable images of [[Ambika (Jainism)|Ambika]] on lion and standing [[Sarasvati]] are from the same period.

A Chamardharini(Chaurie Bearer) stands in [[tribhanga]] pose on a carefully carved [[List of plants known as lotus|lotus]] pedestal. It represents a western India school during the [[Chaulukya dynasty|Chaulukya]] period between the 11th and 12th centuries.

==Inscriptions==
{{Jainism}}
The inscriptions mention these monastic lineages

* Nivrati Kula
* Chandra Kula
* Vidyadhara Kula
* Nagendra Kula
* Gohadra Kula

Modern Jnatis of shravakas are not mentioned, with the exception of a late image of about AD 1000 which mentions [[Modh]] Gachchha. However an earlier image datable to AD 600–650 refers to a sadhu (shravaka) from (nirgata) Kaserahadra. Two of the images refer to goshthikas (guild members) of weavers (salapati).

==Significance==
The Akota bronzes are of considerable artistic and historical significance.
* The inscriptions attest the earliest use of title "Sadhu" (shahu or Shah) by the lay Jains.
* The tradition of legendary wooden [[Jivantasvami]] image is attested by the image of about 550 AD. specifically inscribed as Jivantasvami.<ref>Studies in Jaina Art, Umakant Premanand Shah, Jaina Cultural Research Society, 1955, p. 4, 28</ref> It is regarded to be the first clothed Jain image.<ref>Evolution and Appraisal, Maruti Nandan Prasad Tiwari, in Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects in Honour of Dr. U.P. Shah edited by R. T. Vyas, Umakant Premanand Shah. p. 17</ref> It was installed shortly after the [[Vallabhi council|Valabhi]] vachana presided by Devardhi Gani Kshamashramana in AD 453.<ref>An Epitome of Jainism : Being a Critical Study of Its Metaphysics, Ethics, and History and Culture in Relation to Modern Thought
Puran Chand Nahar, 1917, p. 656</ref>
* [[Jinabhadra Gani Kshamashramana]], is mentioned in the installer of the Rishbhanath image, who wrote the Visheshavashyaka Bhashya.

==Museums==
Most of the Akota bronzes are in the [[Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery]]. There are examples in the [[National Museum, New Delhi]], [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] (New York), and [[Honolulu Academy of Arts]].

==See also==
{{commons category|Akota bronze}}
* [[Jain art]]
* [[Jain Sculpture]]
* [[Chausa hoard]]
* [[Vasantgarh hoard]]
* [[Brahma from Mirpur-Khas]]
* [[Kurkihar hoard]]

==References==
=== Citation ===
{{reflist}}

=== Sources ===
* {{Citation | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EbGdZeQNfWsC | title=Monolithic Jinas: The Iconography of the Jain Temples of Ellora | first=José | last=Pereira | publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] | date=1977 | isbn=9780842610278 }}
* {{cite web | last=Guy | first=John | url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/jais/hd_jais.htm | title=Jain Sculpture | series=In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | location=[[New York City|New York]] | work=[[The Metropolitan Museum of Art]] | date=January 2012 }}

==External links==
* [http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=83001 Iconography of Early Jainism (Part 3)- Fig. 18. (right) Jivantasvamin, metal image of the Svetambaras, Akota hoard.]
* [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2008.279 Enthroned Jina, probably Neminatha, late 7th century, India (Gukarat, Akota)]

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{{Jainism Topics}}

[[Category:Indian sculpture]]
[[Category:Treasure troves of India]]
[[Category:Jain sculptures]]
[[Category:Gupta art]]
[[Category:Vadodara district]]

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Akota Bronzes