________________
170
History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
In ancient India all religions -- Brāhmanism, Jainism and Buddhism - used the art of the age and drew from the common store-house of symbolic and conventional devices. Therefore, no Jaina artistic or architectonic creation can be studied and described in isolation from the mainstream of Indian art and architecture.?
Jainism has its distinct religious and mythological concepts. Therefore, the Jainas produced sculptural forms which are not found in the creations of Hinduism and Buddhism. But even in the production of such sculptures the Jainas adopted the style of the region and the period. Therefore, by Jaina art is meant specimens of art which were created under the patronage of the Jainas.10
Background of the Jaina art of Mathurā
A large number of tīrthamkara images were carved at Mathurā during the period under review. But it would be wrong to assume that this city took the lead in the carving of jina images. It has been held by some scholars that the figures of the tīrthamkaras were chiselled as early as the period of Harappan civilisation. This view has been held on the basis of the discovery of a nude torso from Harappa and some seals at Mohen-jo-daro which contain depiction of human figures standing in a posture, which is closely analogous to the standing meditative posture called the kāyotsarga-mudrā in Jainism." But there is no indisputable evidence that the figures depicted are tirthamkara figures.12
According to Jinaprabha Sūri, a stone sculpture of Pārsvanātha was installed in front of the Jaina stūpa at Mathura at the behest of goddess
6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
IGI, II, p. 110; SIJA, p. 3; JS, Introduction, p. 6. JAA, I, Editorial, p. 3. Ibid. Ibid. SIJA, p.3. Ibid., p. 3 fn 1. Ibid., p. 3; JAA, I, Editorial, p. 3.
