Indian Society for Buddhist Studies

Author(s): Prachya Vidyapeeth
Publisher: Prachya Vidyapeeth

Page 85

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In the proposed research paper, an attempt will be made to discuss the life and contributions of Bhikshu Jagdish Kashyap to Buddhism and Buddhist Studies in a detailed way.
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The Influence of Buddhism and Jainism on SocioReligious Life of Common People at Mathura :
With Special Reference to Inscriptions
Renuka J. Porwal , Mumbai
Mathurā situated on the cross roads of Great Carvan' route was a big commercial centre and also the capital of Kus#ān#a kings in the early Christian era. The city was considered as Moksadayi Tirtha in Indian origin religions. The king and his subject were hiring the artists for utilising their wealth in constructing magnificent shrines, images, halls, wells, etc. for the need of communities. The Art School of Mathurā was famous in remote states too as per the available many images from Sarnatha, ahicchatra and other cities. The people of Mathurā were neither sectarian nor narrow minded but were respecting women and low profile men in the society. The available records corroborate that the women wrote down her in law's names along with their parental pedigrees (LL. no. 29). Kusāna kings were secular and though they patronized Buddhism but at the same time they respected Jainism too.
Later on the artistic shrines of Mathurā attracted the invaders resulted in heavy loss to people and entire city. At Mathurā we get number of Brahmi inscriptions of Vedic and Sramanic traditions but here we will stress more on Sramanic tradition. The dedicatory inscriptions on images and sculptures of Jainism at Mathurā disclose that they were established by the persons following various professions in the society. One famous Jaina Ayagapata at Mathurā was established by courtesan/Ganika