Religion and Culture of the Jains

SR No.: 014007
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: D C Sirkar
Publisher: University of Calcutta
Publication Year: 1973
Total Pages: 168
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 10 MB

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RELIGION AND CULTURE OF THE JAINS
śilaka caitya outside the city of Rajagṛha to the north-east of it'. 85 Hemacandra in his Sthaviravalicaritas also speaks of Gunśīla caitya in the neighbourhood of Rajagṛha as adorned with a caitya tree. Although memories of the place were always cherished in the Jain tradition connected with the activities of Mahavira, the earliest Jain remains of Rajgir belong to the pre-Gupta age. The Sonabhāṇdāra cave belongs to this period. There is an inscription there belonging to c. 1st of 2nd century A.D. The epigraph records that Muni Vairadeva, a jewel among teachers and of great lustre, caused to be excavated two caves fit for the residence of Jain ascetics, with images of Arhats (Jains) installed therein.s Another cave, called 'Vaisnava cave', seems also to be a rockcut Jain shrine.
39
On the Vaibhara hill at Rajgir, there is a ruined temple with a central chamber flanked on all sides by a row of cells containing Digambara images of the Gupta age. In another chamber, there is a seated figure of Neminatha with a fragmentary inscription in Gupta characters referring to Candragupta, apparently Candragupta II of the Gupta dynasty. This is the earliest Jain specimen assignable to a fairly accurate date. The pedestal of the image represents a conch shell flanked by the dharmacakra on either side. The interesting feature of the sculpture is the representation of a young prince, standing in front of a wheel which also serves the purpose of the halo. The prince seems to represent Cakrapurusa. Three standing figures of the Tirthankaras in other niches bear Kuṣāņa art motifs showing stiffness of their
35 Bhagavati Sūtra, 11, 2, etc.; cf. ASI, AR, 1925-26, p. 121. The site of Gunasila caitya lies in the village called Gunava, eleven miles to the south of Rajgir. The Uttara Purana, a Digambara work by Gunabhadra, who flourished in the south in the 9th century A.D., speaks of the Vipula hill at Rajgir as the permanent place of residence of Mahāvīra.
36 1.29; cf. ASI, AR, 1925-26, p. 122.
37 ASI, AR, 1905-06, pp. 98, 166; ibid., 1936-37, p. 47, Pl. XII, c. 38 lbid., 1925-26, pp. 125ff.; U. P. Shah, op. cit., p. 14, fig. 18. 39 U. P. Shah, loc. cit.