Jain Journal 1971 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 12

JAIN JOURNAL
river. If the association of the motif with the iconography of Cakresvari is established the likelihood that the stūpa was dedicated to Risabhanatha will appear convincing. Here analogically may be mentioned the standard of triratna symbol as representation of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha occurring on the summit of the northern gateway of the Great Stüpa at Sanchi. The plan, design and motif of the shrine of the doubleheaded eagle will obviously require a further survey2 especially in view of the importance of the area of the monument where an Aramaic inscription containing the word Priyadarśana has been discovered. It may be recalled that Priyadarśana may be equally an epithet of Asoka or his illustrious grandfather Chandragupta Maurya, who was a disciple of Bhadrabahu according to the Digambara tradition.
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Ayagapata of Sivayasa depicting a stupa surrounded by a railing with
a torana having voluted architraves, Mathura, Kushana Period.
2 As regards the shrine at Taxila the following observation of Marshall may be noted: “The whole facing of kanjur stone, including mouldings and other decorations, was originally finished with a thin coat of fine stucco and, as time went on, numerous other coats were added, several of which when first excavated, showed traces of red, crimson and yellow paint. Both drum and dome were probably adorned with decorations executed in stucco and painted, and the dome was surmounted by three umbrellas. At the edge of the steps and round the base of the stupa was a low wall decorated on the outside with the usual Buddhist railing, parts of which were found in the courtyard below.” (Ibid., pp. 74-75). Marshall states that the “chamber containing the relics in this stupa was found in the centre of the base at a depth of 5 ft. 2 in. below its top, but it had long since been rifled of its centents." (Ibid., p. 75).