Jain Bibliography

Author(s): Chhotelal Jain
Publisher: Bharti Jain Parisad

Page 49

ARCH., ARTS, & MUSEUM REPORTS
conquest, when all Buddhist monuments of Mathura had long since fallen into ruins.
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Pp. 41-43. Some remarks regarding images of Jinas or Tirthankaras-The great Jain site of Mathura is the Kankāli Ţila-The Tirthankara image is in all probability a purely Indian creation-The most striking feature of the Tirthankara figure is its nudity in which case the image belongs to the Digambara sect-The Jina has symbols not only on the palms and soles, but also in the centre of the breast. The hair is usually arranged in short curls in the shape of spirals turned towards the right. The earlier specimens are somewhat dif ferent : The hair assumes the appearance of a periwig, or it hangs down on the shoulders in straight locks-The earlier Tirthankaras have neither uṣṇīṣa nor ūrṇā but those of the later part of the Middle Ages have a distinct excrescence on the top of the head-In artistic merit Jain figures are far inferior to those of the Buddhists-Devotional scenes are commonly found on the pedestals of Tirthankara figures of the Kuşana period-The standing Jain figures are more devoid of grace and expression than the seated ones-Mention is made of the fourfold Jain figures in the possession of the Mathura Museum.
In the earlier Jain sculptures of the Kuṣāna and Gupta periods there is nothing to distinguish the individual Tirthankaras, except the snake-hood in the case of Suparśva and Pārsvanatha. In mediaeval sculpture there is usually a symbol or cognizance carved on the pedestal to show which Tirthankara the image represents.
Pp. 66-82. A list of eighty Jaina sculptures including Jina or Tirthankara images, portions of images, heads, torso etc.
Pp. 207-209. List of inscriptions. Kuṣāna period (1st and 2nd centuries A.D.)
Dated.
Jina four-fold images; inscription dated in the year 5. Jina four-fold image; inscription of the year 35.
Jina (?) image, fragmentary inscription of the year 50 in the reign of Huvishka.
Jina image; inscription of the year 83 in the reign of Vasudeva.
Jina image; fragmentary inscription of the year 83.
Jina image; inscription of the year 84 in the reign of Vasudeva. Jina image; inscription of the year go (?).
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