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198
History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathură
Gupta period.267 Other museums in India and abroad, too, do not seem to possess Jaina sculptures of Mathura of the Gupta period in considerable numbers.268
The Jaina sculptures of the Gupta period discovered at Mathura consist of twenty-five tithamkara images in the seated meditative mudra, six tīrthamkara images in the standing meditative mudra, twenty-three detached heads of tīrthamkara figures, and some fragmentary pieces.269 It is, thus, evident that as in the Kuṣaṇa period so in the Gupta period the images of the jinas in the seated posture were more popular than those in the standing posture.
The Jina figures of Mathura: The Gupta period
The cognizances or lañchanas of the various tīrthamkaras did not evolve even in the Gupta period.270 Therefore, the figures of the jinas have been recognised on the basis of inscriptions, hair styles, attendants and serpentcanopy.271 It appears that images of only three jinas - Rṣabha,272 Nemi273 and Pārsva274 were carved at Mathura during the Gupta period. The figures of Rṣabha have been identified on the basis of locks of hair,275 and inscription incised on the figure. 276 The figure of Neminatha has been identified on the basis of his representation in the company of Krsna and Balarama,277 and
267. JAA, 1, p. 107.
268.
Ibid.
269. Ibid., p. 108.
270. Ibid., p. 116; R.C. Sharma, Jaina Sculptures..., op.cit., pp. 145-6.
271. Ibid.
272.
273.
274.
275.
276. Ibid., B. 6, 268; Ibid. p. 22.
277.
SML no. J.121; JPV, p. 50.
MM nos. B. 6, B 7: JUPHS, III, p. 18; JPV, p. 50; JAA, I, p. 108.
SML nos. J.89, J.121; JAA, I, pp. 108, 109; JPV, p. 50.
SML no. J.100; JAA, I, p. 109; JPV, p. 50.
MM nos. B. 6, 268; JUPHS, III, pp. 18, 22.
