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History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
executed in stone.583 Each of them was alike in design and consisted of two square uprights surmounted by capitals which in their turn supported three architraves with a row of sculptured balusters in between.584 Each of them was carved on both faces with Jataka tales, scenes from the life of the Buddha, and other motifs, the entire composition being significantly crowned by the dharma-cakra symbol.585
The surviving remains of the Bharhut stūpa in central India mainly consist of portions of enclosing stone railing, dating from 125 bc, and the eastern gateway, erected fifty years later.586 They are of the same design as the Sanchi railing and gateways, and are richly carved with bas-reliefs.547 The architecture of the Jaina stūpa or stūpas constructed at Mathurā should be judged in the light of these developments.
We begin the discussion with the number of Jaina stūpas constructed at Mathurā. Archaeological excavations conducted at Kankāli Tilā unearthed some component parts of the stūpa. For an idea of the elevation and outer form of this stūpa we have to depend on representation of the stūpa on āyāgapattas, tympana, reliefs on architraves of the gateways, etc.588 According to Debala Mitra, the reliefs and dismembered stones of gateways and railings indicate that either more than one stūpa was built at Kankālī Tīlā or a single stūpa underwent restoration and embellishments at frequent intervals.389 V.S. Agrawala590 and P.K. Agrawala591 opine that two Jaina stūpas were built at Mathurā - one in the Sunga period and the other in the Kusāna period.
583. AII, p. 80; P.K. Agrawala, op. cit., p. 2. 584. Ibid., p. 80. 585. Ibid. 586. Ibid., p. 81. 587. Ibid. 588. JAA, I, p. 54. 589. Ibid. 590. V.S. Agrawala, Bhäratīya Kalā, op. cit., p. 224. 591. P.K. Agrawala, op. cit., p. 4.
