________________
92
A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF JAINISM
epigraphic reference to this sākhā, I am aware of.
Another inscription from Mathurā and dated 299 of an unknown era refers to the erection of an image of Mahāvīra and a temple (devakula) by Okhā, Sarika, and Sivadinā. The inscription is in Sanskrit and bears a date in the Kaniska era, corresponding in to AD 377, in Bühler's view. But the peculiar Kuşāņa title rājātirāja given to the reigning king, whose name is missing, probably indicates that it should be referred to an earlier era.
We should take here brief notice of the two Jaina councils held in the fourth century AD at Mathurā and Valabhi. The council at Mathurā was held under the presidentship of Khandila (Skandila) 827 years (or according to some 840 years) after Mahāvīra's nirvāņa. The earliest work that refers to this council is the Nandīcūrnio composed in the seventh century AD. Another council was held almost simultaneously at Valabhi under the presidentship of Nāgārjuna. According to commentators, the canon compiled in the council of Mathurā was somewhat different from that compiled at Valabhi. The earliest Jaina council, held at Pāçaliputra in the last quarter of the fourth century BC, will be discussed later in this volume.
The next important Jaina inscription belongs to the reign of Skandagupta. This inscription has been found from Kahaum in Gorakhpur district, U.P. It bears the year 141 of the Gupta era corresponding to AD 461 of the tranquil (śānte) reign of Skandagupta. From this inscription we learn that this place was formerly called Kakubha (1. 5). We are told of the setting up of five images (pañcendra) of Tirthamkaras (probably Adinātha, śānti, Nemi, Pārsva and Mahāvīra) by a person called Madra, who traced his descent from one Somila, and who had equal respect for dvija, guru, and yati. This inscription appears to be a Digambara record, and there are traces of Jaina shrines near the pillar bearing it.97
A copperplate inscription of the Gupta year 159 from Paharpur, Bangladesh is one of the most interesting Jaina records of the Gupta period. The inscription is incidentally the earliest Jaina record from Bengal. It records an endowment for the worship of Arhats to a vihāra in Vațagoālio near Paharpur, presided over by the disciples descended from the Nirgrantha Acārya Guhanandin of Kāśī. This Guhanandin is further described as belonging to Pancastüpanikāya. The persons who were responsible for the endowment were a Brāhmana named Näthaśarman and his wife Rami. The language of the inscription indicates that this Brāhmaṇa pair were zealous
