________________
its history goes back to the period earlier to that of Kuşāns - during the last centuries of B.C.E. It is known (p.2) that the tradition of manastambha was standardized in the times of Kuşāņas, as found at Kankāli-Tila Jain archaeological site at Mathura. The earliest extant Jain manastambha is at Kahaon in Uttar Pradesh, North India, dated C.E. 460. Mānastambhas are of three varieties, and pillar worship in Buddhism is unknown, though it originated during the rejuvenation of period of Jainism under Mahāvira. Two mānastambhas - 50 ft high, of the Sunga-Kuşāņa age on the east and south sides of the temple at Nāthanagar Road in Bhagalpur district of Bihar have sustained despite a damage in the 1934 earth quake (p.10). Interestingly, the author also treats metaphysical aspects of the mānastambhas (pp.1114) and also their distribution list (pp.24–25).
All in all the book is a very good addition to the study of Jainism and its history, art and architecture.
68 For Private & Personal Use Only
Jain Education International
www.jainelibrary.org
