Correlation of Jaina Inscriptions with Sthaviravalis

Author(s): U P Shah
Publisher: Z_Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_1_002105.pdf and Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_2

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Correlation of Jaina Inscriptions with Sthavirāvalīs
of the followers of the Vaisnava sect. This was done by the Jainas of the school of Arya Vajra who still had retained possession of the western one of the two caves. The original Jina image or images of the time of Arya Vajra now do not exist.
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The followers of the Digambara sect are reluctant to accept the above-noted interpretation for the fear of Svetämbaras being acknowledged as owners of this and other sites at Räjgir. But this inscription about Arya Vajra (who is known to the early pattavalis inherited by the Śvetämbaras) refers to the times when the Svetämbara-Digambara schism did not originate nor had the difference about Śvetämbara and Digambara images in worship come.18
We may next turn to the other problematic epigraphs. Two inscriptions from Jaina stūpa at Kaňkāli Ṭilā, Mathurâ, especially are intersting as they refer to a Jaina äcärya well-known to us from the paṭṭāvalis and other Jaina texts. The first dated in the year 52 (=A. D. 130), on the pedestal of a broken image, was published by Bühler in "Further Inscriptions From Mathura", inscription no. 18, Epigraphia Indica, Vol. II (reprinted ed.), pp. 203-204. The second edited by Bühler in EI., Vol. I., pp. 391, no. 21, as inscribed on the pedestal of a headless image of Sarasvati (fig. 2) from Kankali Ṭilă, Mathura. This is dated in the year 54 (=A. D. 132).*
Lüders discussed them again in the Indian Antiquary, Vol. XXXIII. pp.104f. Transcripts of Bühler's readings, placed side by side, are also reproduced there (fig.).
Bühler translated the first inscription as under :
"Success! The year fifty-two, 52, the first month of winter, the twentyfifth day, 25, at that moment (was dedicated) the gift of the worker in metal Gottika, the śura, the son of śramanaka, at the request of the preacher Arya Divita, (who is) the convert of the gani Arya Manguhasti (and) pupil of the preacher Ärya Ghastuhasti out of the Kotiya gana, the Vera (Vajra)
*The new date for the beginning of the Kuṣāna Era, as recently calculated by Harry Falk is A.D. 137. Hence the date of this inscription would be A. D. 189.-Editors. + The figure is also read at '94, in which case, following Falk's determination, the date of the image would be A. D. 231. The style of the image perfectly accords with
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this date.
Editors.