________________
Antiquity of Jain Mantras and Mantric Literature TYJE have already stated that Vidyānupravāda, the tenth Pūrva,
W was entirely devoted to Mantras and Vidyās and that the Mantric literature comprised therein may be reasonably supposed to belong to the age of Sri Pārsvanātha. We also indicated its possible connection with earlier Tirthankaras including the first Tirthankara Sri Rşbhadeva by reference to Kalpasūtra and the Jain tradition (See note p. 149 ante).
JAIN STUPA AND OTHER ANTIQUITIES OF MATHURĂ
Tradition connects Sri Pārsvanātha with the famous Jain Stüpa at Mathurā which has been described in the Inscription (No. XX Epigraphia Indica Vol. II) dated the year 79 of Kuśāna King Vasudeva i.e. 157 A.D. as 'built by the Gods'. Smith says in his 'Jain Stūpa and other Antiquities of Mathurā' (p. 13);
"Its original erection in brick in the time of Pārsvanātha the predecessor of Mahāvīra would fall at a date not later than B.C. 600. Considering the significance of the phrase in the inscription 'built by the Gods' as indicating that the building at about the beginning of the Christian era was believed to date from a peried of mythical antiquity, the date B.C.600 for its first erection is not too early. Probably, therefore, this stūpa of which Dr. Fuhrer exposed the foundations is the oldest building known in India."
Sri Jinaprabhasūri also in Mathurāpuri Kalpa contained in his work Vividha-Tīrtha-Kalpa p. 19 describes it as built by Gods (aqfaffenu), and in his Caturasīti-Mahātirtha-nāmasangraha-kalpa he describes it as 'built by Mahālakṣmi' (HTCni hginaalfafáa: Agapedia:), the name Mahālakṣmi being perhaps taken to be a synonym for Kuberā, Kubera being the famous god of wealth and Kuberā being his female counterpart and therefore identified with Mahālaksmi.
According to the account contained in the said Mathurāpuri Kalpa the original Stüpa was of gold and built by Kuberā, a sylvan
