History of Jainism

SR No.: 006741
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: U K Sharma
Publisher: D K Print World
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 304
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 10 MB

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History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
being consulted by Sir Antony MacDonnell,80 V.A. Smith edited the plates left behind by Fuhrer in 1901.81 V.A. Smith produced a book entitled The Jaina Stūpa and other Antiquities of Mathurā in 1901 on the subject. This book was reviewed by Foucher who stated that he himself saw in the Lucknow Museum the archaeological specimens figuring on these plates.82 V.A. Smith published as plate I 'a General Plan' of the excavated part of the Kaňkālī Tīlā, showing the remains of a great number of buildings.83 These, however, cannot be identified, the exception being the foundations of the Jaina brick-stūpa, situated at the eastern end of the Kańkäli Tilā.84
The material at the command of V.A. Smith was inadequate and incomplete. And, he regretfully mentioned this fact many times in the aforesaid bock.85 Therefore, the account embodied in V.A. Smith's The Jaina Stupa and other Antiquities of Mathurā remained inadequate and incomplete. Fuhrer had maintained no record of his operations. Smith had not been associated with the excavation work conducted at Kankālī Tīlā. It was, therefore, a case of one blind person providing light to the other blind. The fault lay with Fuhrer and not Smith. In view of these unfortunate happenings a researcher on the history of Jainism in Mathurā feels handicapped.
Jainism in Mathurā — the early phase
According to the Jaina tradition, Mathurā was a principal seat of Jainism. 86 The discovery of immense Jaina antiquities from Mathurā, especially from the Kankālī mound, bears testimony to the truth embodied in this Jaina tradition.
80. MI, p. 41; JS, Preface. 81. Ibid. 82. Ibid., fn 6. 83. JS, Plate 1; MI, p. 41. Sir Antony MacDonnell was the Lieutenant-Governor of the
North-Western Provinces and Chief Commissioner of Oudh. See JS, Preface. 84. MI, p. 41. 85. JS, Preface, Introduction, pp. 2 ff; MCH, p. 109. 86. Vividha-Tīrtha-Kalpa, Mathurāpuri Kalpa, pp.17 ff; Yasastilaka, pp. 416, 432, 433;
LDJC, pp. 308-9; OISJ, p. 42.