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Jainism in Mathurā Second century BC to eleventh century AD
MATHURA— the heart of Braj - and described as one of the seven holy cities of India in the Garuda Purana,' has been a sacred city to the Hindus from very early times. This city has been held in high esteem by the Jainas also. Tradition recorded in later Jaina texts associates Mathurā with many tīrthamkaras. According to Vividha-Tīrtha-Kalpa, a fourteenth-century work made known by Buhler, a stūpa was built at Mathurā in honour of Supārsvanātha, the seventh tirthamkara. Another Jaina tradition describes Mathurā as the birth place of Naminātha, the twenty-first tīrthamkara.Neminātha (Aristanemi), the twenty-second tirthamkara, who was a cousin of Vasudeva-Krsna and Balarāma, was closely associated with Mathurā," and according to VividhaTīrtha-Kalpa, he had a specially honoured place in this city. Many images of the Kusāna and post-Kusāna period represent Neminātha in the company of Krsna and Balarama. Vardhamāna Mahāvīra is said to have visited Mathurā. Jambūsvāmī, the last kevalin, is believed to have performed penance in this city.
1. Garuda Purāna, 2.28.3 cited in A.B.L. Awasthi, Garuda Purāna Ek Adhyayana, 1968,
p. 15; P.D. Mittal, Braj Kā Sāṁskrtika Itihāsa, vol. I, 1966, p. 22 fn. 2. 2. JS.p. 13; Yaśastilaka, p. 432. 3. Vividha-Tirtha-Kalpa, pp. 17ff; MS, pp. 1-2; JAA, I, p. 50. 4. JI, p. 80; JAA, I, p. 50. 5. MS. p. 2; Ibid. 6. Ibid.; Ibid., Vividha-Tīrtha-Kalpa, p. 86. 7. MM no. 34. 2488; JAA, I, p. 50. 8. LDJC, p. 309; MCH, p. 211.
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