History Of Jainism With Special Reference To Mathura

SR No.: 022807
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: U K Sharma
Publisher: D K Printworld P L
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 304
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 173

Jainism in Mathura
bounds. They either requested or issued commands to the Jaina lay-devotees to make donations in the form of images, etc., and their command or request or wish for the same was fulfilled by their male and female disciples.250
It appears certain that the Jaina inscriptions discovered at Mathura were composed either by the preceptors (monks and nuns), who acted as spiritual directors of the lay-devotees, or by the pupils of the preceptors. 251 This fact does not find mention in these inscriptions,252 but in numerous later inscriptions of the same character we find the names of the yatis who composed them.253 The Jaina inscriptions of Mathura are replete with the names of male and female donors and their relatives; they also mention the names of the male and female preceptors along with their schools, at whose command or request the donations were made. 254
The Jaina images were installed in the temples,255 houses and courtyards.256 Probably, they were installed in open spaces also.257 It appears that the Jaina temple at Mathura had a main shrine called the devakula, an āyāgasabha or a sacred hall or place, and a reservoir (prapa).258 Stone slabs called ayaga-paṭṭa or silä-paṭṭa were also installed in the temples for worship.259 The Jaina temples were probably residences of the ascetics also.260 The Jaina images were sometimes installed at the stupa also.261 The temple of the arhats
250. EI, X, Appendix, nos. 16, 50, etc.
251.
EI, I, p. 377.
252. Ibid.
253. Ibid.
254. Ibid., X, Appendix, nos. 16, 24, 27-9, etc.
255.
Ibid., Appendix, no. 78.
256. LDJC, pp. 255, 309.
257. JAA, I, p. 52.
258. EI, X, Appendix, no. 102; B.N. Puri, op. cit., p. 149.
259. Ibid.; ibid.
260. Ibid.; ibid.
261. Ibid., no. 47.
4€
151