Jain Journal 1978 04

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

Page 29

APRIL, 1978
of the great Jina. From the Antagaḍadasão we further learn that the Mallakis, alongwith the Ugras, Bhogas, the Ksatriyas, and the Licchavis, went to receive Aritthanemi or Aristanemi (the king of Videha?) the twenty-second Tirthankara when the latter had been to the city of Barvai. 22 And, this was also the case with the Ganarajas of Kasi and Kosala. 23 Bimbisara, Nandas, Candragupta Maurya, Samprati, Kharavela and other powerful rulers are also represented to have been associated with the Jaina Church of Mahavira in the successive periods. 24 During Gupta period and also later on Jainism flourished to a great extent. But by the 13th and 14th centuries A.D., the influence of the Jainas practically becomes non-existent in Mithila and the adjoining regions. 25
129
The creed (Jainas) has left a large number of antiquities which are scattered all over Northern India. But so far Mithila is concerned a very few remains are available, which do not help us much in presenting a connected history of Jaina art in this part of the country. Archaeologically, the modern site of Vaisali (a part of ancient Mithila) is entirely devoid of any remains belonging to this religious order. We have however, several references to Jaina antiquities in Vaisali and its suburbs in the Jaina literature. The Uvaagadasão 26 says that Jnatrikas possessed a Jaina temple, outside their settlement at Kollaga bearing the name of Duipalasa. Cetiya is the term used for Jaina temple which according to Hoernle means "properly the name of a Jaina temple or sacred shrine, but commonly applied to the whole sacred enclosure containing a garden grove or park (ujjāna, vana-sanda or vana-khanda), a shrine and attendants' houses."27 This religious establishment might have been kept up for the accommodation of Mahavira on his periodical visit along with his disciples to Kundapura or Vaisali. 28
Like the Buddhist tradition, the Jaina tradition also refers to the practice of erecting stupas over the ashes of the Jinas. One such stupa existed at Vaisali dedicated to the Jina Muni Suvrata.29 Stupa worship
22 Barnet, The Antagada Dasao and Anuttarovavaiya Dasao, p. 36.
23 For details, see C. J. Shah, op. cit., pp. 108-111.
24 Ibid., 112-86; 204-16; also cf. Report on Kumrahar Excavations, 1951-55, pp. 10-11.
25 For details, see U. Thakur, Studies in Jainism in Mithila.
26 Hoernle, i, p. 2.
27 Ibid., ii. p. 2, fn. 4; For different interprecations of this term, see U. P. Shah, Studies in Jaina Art, pp. 43-55.
28 C. J. Shah, 106.
29 Avasyaka-Curni of Jinadasa (c. 676 A. D.), pp. 223-27, 567.