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 208

186
@急卐
History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
of this period are often displayed seated on the lion throne. 154 This depiction is indicative of their cakravartin status. 155 Generally speaking, usnīṣa is conspicuous by its absence in the jina figures of this period.156
The Jaina iconography of Mathura 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, ,158 called pratima-sarvatobhadrikā in the Jaina inscriptions, 159 and caumukha-pratima in later periods. 160 Twenty-eight figures of this type ranging in date from Saka year 5161, probably of the Kuṣaṇa king Kaniska, 162 to the year 74, have come to light at Mathura.163 These images present the figure of a tirthamkara on each of the four sides of a stone block. 164 Two of the four images in many sarvatobhadrika-pratimas of Mathura of this period can be easily identified as figures of Rṣabha and Parsva 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 Neminatha, who being the cousin of Kṛṣṇa and Balarama was greatly esteemed at Mathura.167
U.P. Shah opines that sarvatobhadrika-pratimas of Mathura were based
154. Ibid., MM nos. B. 17, B. 18, etc.
155. MS, p. 24.
156.
157. JAA, I, p. 66.
158.
Ibid.
JUPHS, III, MM no. B. 57, etc.
EI, X, Appendix no. 24; JAA, I, p. 66; SIJA, p. 11.
159.
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.
166.
167.
Ibid.; SIJA, p. 11; MCH, p. 354.
Ibid., p. 66.
Ibid.