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History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
Jaina monks for sojourn.386 Jainism was, undoubtedly, in a flourishing state in Mathurā in the first century and the second century AD. But due to the absence of relevant data it is difficult to assign a definite period to the happenings in Mathurā described in the Jaina texts.
The accounts left behind by Jinaprabha Sūri and Somadeva leave us in no doubt that the Jainas viewed Mathurā as a sacred city. In his Yasastilakacampū Somadeva makes mention of Urvilā, a queen of Mathurā, who used to send the rathayātrā of the jina on the occasion of the Astähika-mahotsava.387 According to Jinaprabha Sūri's Vividha-Tirtha-Kalpa, goddess Kuberā told the Jainas of Mathurā to worship the jina in their homes, and therefore, the practice of placing the image of the jina over the door-way was instituted in this city.368 Harisena's Brhat-kathā-kośa tells that Mathurā was full of lofty Jaina temples.389 He also mentions the Jaina rathayātrā festival of Mathurā, and tells that five Jaina stūpas were built in this city after the defeat of the Buddhists in the controversy with the Jainas.390
Another Jaina text tells that Mathurā was a great centre of Jainism, and that ninety-six villages were attached to this city.391 It also tells that people installed the images of the arhats in their homes and court-yards in this city and the villages attached to it. 392 We learn from the Jaina texts that there were many gardens in Mathurā, one of which was called bhamdīra.393 It contained the shrine of yaksa Sudarsana.394 We are told that Mathurā was renowned for pilgrimage to the temple of yaksa bhamdīra.395 Pārsvanātha is said to have
386. MCH, p. 210. 387. Yaśastilaka, pp. 416-17; MCH, p. 210. 388. Vividha-Tīrtha-Kalpa, pp. 17ff; Ibid. 389. MCH, p. 211. 390. Ibid. 391. LDJC, pp. 255, 309. 392. Ibid. 393. Vividha-Tirtha Kalpa, pp. 17ff; LDJC, p. 255 fn 6; MCH, p. 211. 394. MCH, p. 211. 395. Ibid.; LDJC, p. 255.
