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

Page 208

186
History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
wsdeskusesse
of this period are often displayed seated on the lion throne.154 This depiction is indicative of their cakravartin status.155 Generally speaking, uşnīsa is conspicuous by its absence in the jina figures of this period. 156
The Jaina iconography of Mathurā of this period throws a hint that among the twenty-four jinas, four were held specially sacred by the Jaina community of this city.157 This is evident from the discovery of quadruple images, 168 called pratimă-sarvatobhadrikā in the Jaina inscriptions, 159 and caumukha-pratimă in later periods.160 Twenty-eight figures of this type ranging in date from Saka year 5161, probably of the Kusāna king Kaniska, 162 to the year 74, have come to light at Mathurā. 163 These images present the figure of a tīrthamkara on each of the four sides of a stone block.164 Two of the four images in many sarvatobhadrikā-pratimās of Mathurā of this period can be easily identified as figures of Rsabha and Pārsva on the basis of locks of hair and serpent-hoods respectively. 165 Of the remaining two jinas, one has been recognised as Mahāvīra.166 The other may be Neminātha, who being the cousin of Krşņa and Balarāma was greatly esteemed at Mathurā. 167
U.P. Shah opines that sarvatobhadrikā-pratimās of Mathurā were based
154. Ibid., MM nos. B. 17, B. 18, etc. 155. MS, p. 24. 156. JUPHS, III, MM no. B. 57, etc. 157. JAA, I, p. 66. 158. Ibid. 159. EI, X, Appendix no. 24; JAA, I, p. 66; SIJA, p. 11. 160. JAA, I, p. 66; SIJA, p. 12. 161. MCH, p. 353. 162. JAA, I, p. 66. 163. MCH, p. 353. 164. JAA,I, p. 66. 165. Ibid.; SIJA, p. 11; MCH, p. 354. 166. Ibid., p. 66. 167. Ibid.