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No. 1]
Mohen-jo-daro Antiquities and Jainism
seen among the Jainas. The nudity and Kayotsarga posture of these Yogis are essential characteristics of a Jaina Śramana. In the Jaina pantheon six Charan-Yog's, who were Yadava princes are held in great reverence, 25 It is probable that those very Charan-Yog's are shown here propagating the Ahinsa culture.
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7. Images-Nude images had been unearthed at Mohenjodaro and Harappa. Image No. 15 & 16 of plate xiii represents a seated image with a hood over its head. A Jaina at the very first glance will say that this image is either of Tirthankara Suparsva or Pārsva. Images similar to it are found in abundance in the Jaina temples. An interesting terra-cotta figure also represents a man standing full front in complete nudity, (HR 5368, pl. xciv, pp 11) which probably represents a naked Jaina Yogi. A statuette from Harappa (pl. x) likewise seems to represent a Jaina Yogi in Kayotsarga posture. Unfortunatily this statuette is broken and its portions of head and legs are missing, yet its nudity and position of both the arms indicate that it was a representation of a Digambar Jain Yogi.
Thus viewing these similarties of Mohenjodaro antiquities, one is justified to regard Jaina tradition as concrete, which claims a hoary antiquity to its Tirthankaras. I hope, the scholars will make thorough research in this respect.
25. Antagada-Dagno, Ahmedabad) p. 10.
*Submitted to the Indian History Congress for reading in its Bombay session of Decr. 1947.
