Jaina Sculptures of the Gupta Age in the State Museum Lucknow

SR No.: 250164
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: R C Sharma
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_
Total Pages: 13
Language: English
Classification: Article & Art
File Size: 4 MB

Page 15

JAINA SCULPTURES OF THE GUPTA AGE : 153 J. 118 J. 36 The material is red sand stone and it measures is 4'2" x 3'. It came from Kankali mound, Mathura. (Fig. 7.) Image of a Tirthankara perhaps Vardhamana seated in meditation on lion throne. He wears the usual symbol of Srivatsa on his chest. The halo round the head is elaborately carved and consists of full-blown lotus in the centre and three concentric bands of ornaments : (a) scroll work of ornamental foliage, (b) band of twisting rope pattern with rosettes at regular intervals, and (c) scalloped border. The left upper corner is broken while on the right is the figure of a Vidyadhara carrying a garland. The lions on the throne sit with their backs turned towards each other. The Jina on each side is flanked by the rampant lion figures. In the lower part of the throne is a wheel in centre which is being worshipped by the male and female devotees with their hands in adoration. The material is red sand stone and it measures 3' x1'.9'. The provenance is Mathura. The importance of this image lies in the fact that this is one of the only two inscribed Jaina images of Gupta period so far found in India. The other being at Udayagiri in Malwa is of 426 A.D. referring to the installation of an image of Parsvanatha (The Classical Age, p. 409). The present image represents a headless Tirthankara seated in meditation on a lion thrune. He wears the usual Srivatsa mark on his chest. In the centre of pedestal is a wheel being worshipped by the devotees kneeling with folded hands. The lions who are supporting the throne are sitting on two corners with their back turned to each other and also facing each other twisting their necks. The pedestal is inscribed and bears two lines in Sanskrit in Brahmi script of the 5th century A.D. Buhler in Epigraphia Indica, Vol. II, p. 210, No. XXXIX, reads and translates it as follows: १-सिद्धम् / परमभट्टारकमाहाराजाधिराजश्रीकुमारगुप्तस्य विजयराज्यसं (100 10) 3 ...FAH!... (fa)... po 27771 g(safai) F an २-द्विद्याधरी(तो) शाखातो दलिलाचाय्यप्रज्ञपिताये शामाढ्याये भट्टिभवस्य धीतु ग्रहमित्र पालि(त)प्रा (ता)रिकस्य कुटुम्बिनोये प्रतिमा प्रतिष्ठापिता "Success in the year 113, in the victorious reign of the supreme king of great kings, the illustrious Kumaragupta, on the twentieth day of the winter month) Karttika-on that (date,