Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

SR No.: 007031
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Renuka J Porwal
Publisher: Prachya Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2016
Total Pages: 306
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 13 MB

Page 38

The Place of Mathurā in Jainism
37
established at 'Devanirmita Stūpa' in Kuşāņa year 79. Thus, there was a possibility, that it was constructed more than 3000 years ago. Here, the large and broad stone channels are found indicating that they were constructed for water supply and drainage system44 Vincent Smith referred to Tirtha-kalpa of Jinaprabhasūri based on ancient data that this stūpa was the oldest known building structure in India. He noted, “The sanctuary was restored in honour of Pārsvanātha by Bappabhattasūri, 1300 years after Mahāvīra had reached perfection. Assuming the ordinary received date B.C. 527, for Mahāvīra's Nirvāņa, the restoration of the stūpa may be dated about 1300 years later, or A.D. 750. Its original erection in brick in the time of Pārsvanātha, the predecessor of Mahāvīra, would fall at a date not later than B.C. 600. Considering the significance of the phrase in the inscription built by gods' as indicating that the building at about the beginning of the Christian era was believed to date from a period of mythical antiquity, the date B.C. 600 for its first erection is not too early. The stūpa of which Dr. Fuhrer exposed the foundations is the oldest known building in India45". In the year 1836 A.D., some ancient sculptures of Gandhāra schoola rail post showing a female figure holding a cage and standing on a dwarf and the so-called silenus group 46 were found accidently in Mathurā while constructing a building. Finding of such sculptures put the archaeologists in surprise so they carried out excavations on such mounds like Cobārā, Laksmana Tīlā, Jamālpura gadhi, katrā, Corāsi, etc., Kaňkālī Tīlā was one of them. The inscriptions of some of the artefacts reveal that from 2nd century B.C. some Jaina shrines existed at Mathurā. The representation of stūpa on sculptures is available in two ways, either as a chief theme or as a symbol on Āyāgapata. Loņaśobhikā and Sivayaśā's Āyāgapațas have a depiction of stūpa as a main theme, adored by celestials. The symbolic representation of the stūpa is available on the sides of Āyāgapatas, toraņas or on door lintel also. On the Ayāgapața of Kanha, it is carved between four Jinas in upper register while the lower contains a deity named Vidyā, a Jaina monk-Kaṇha, a lady ascetic and other devotees. Here a stūpa is adored with Jina images. From
44 Sharma R. C., 1971, op. cit. pp. 9 45 Smith V., 1900, op. cit. pp. 13 46 Ibid. pp. 3.