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History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
man, i.e., the jina.308 Like the Brāhmaṇical and the Buddhist figures, the tīrthařkaras figures of the Gupta period demonstrate triumph of spiritualism over materialism. It was the Mathurā sculptor of the Gupta period who protrayed the true character of the jinas in his creations. Spiritual beauty and calm contemplation pervade the jina figures of the Gupta period. These figures have been aptly described as spiritually luminous.309
One of the tīrthařkara figures of Mathurā belonging to the Gupta period is highly illustrative of the character of the jina figures of this period. This figure, which forms part of the collection of State Museum, Lucknow,310 is one the finest creations of the Mathurā school of art.311 It depicts a jina seated in meditation. The expression on the face of this figure is suggestive of supreme bliss; it is a state which can be attained only after passions have been burnt by the fire of knowledge. 312 It truly demonstrates the jina's conquest of the body, of the senses, and of the world-stuff. The master sculptor of Mathurā exquisitely conveyed this idea through this extraordinary jina figure of the Gupta period. This beautifully modelled figure was discovered from Kankāli Tilā, Mathurā.313
Other Jaina figures of Mathurā: The Gupta period
The era of āyāga-pattas had ended at Mathurā. It is evident from the fact that no āyāga-patta assignable to the Gupta period has come to light at Mathurā.314 The independent images of the Jaina deities like Sarasvati, Balabhadra and Dharanendra, too, were not carved at Mathurā during the period under
308. R.C. Sharma, Jaina Sculptures..., op. cit., p. 144. 309. JAA, I, p. 68. 310. SML no. J.104; R.C. Sharma, Jaina Sculptures ... op.cit., figure 7. 311. R.C. Sharma, Jaina Sculptures ... op. cit., p. 152. 312. Ibid. 313. Ibid., p. 153. 314. JPV, p. 47.
