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Jainism in Mathurā
visited the garden called bhamdīra.396 Probably, Mahāvīra also stayed in this garden 397 in the course of his visit to Mathurā.398 This garden was, undoubtedly, held in great esteem by the Jainas. A Jaina inscription excavated at Kankāli Tīlā is a record of the installation of an āyāga-patta at bhamdīra by a goldsmith.399 Yaksa-worship was a feature of Jaina religious life, 400 and Pārsvanātha's visit to the bhamdīra garden,401 which contained the shrine of yaksa Sudarsana, 402 is probably an indication of a thriving yaksa cult at Mathurā. 403
Some terracotta seals bearing tri-ratna symbol, which form part of the collection of Government Museum, Mathurā,404 have come to light in this city. Such seals were probably built to serve as mementoes for the Jaina pilgrims to this city. In the Jaina texts we also find mention of the didactic tale of śrāvaka Jiņadāsa of Mathurā whose two bulls named Kambala and Sambala also performed vrtas with him.405 The Jaina literature also makes mention of a Yavana king of Mathurā who murdered a Jaina monk named Damda.406 We are also told that this king, subsequently, became a Jaina monk to make amends for this crime.407 Two famous Jaina monks – ācārya Mamgū and ācārya Rakkhiya — also visited Mathurā.408 Jambūsvāmī, the last kevalin, is said to have performed penance in this city.
396. MCH, p. 211. 397. JAA, I, pp. 63-4. 398. Vivāgasuya, p. 45, cited in JAA, I, p. 50. 399. EI, X, Appendix no. 95. 400. V.S. Agrawala, Ancient Indian ... , op. cit., p. 104. 401. MCH, p. 211. 402. Ibid.: LDJC, p. 255. 403. Ibid., p. 211. 404. MM no. 2462. 405. MCH, p. 211. 406. Ibid. 407. Ibid. 408. JDJC, p. 255.
