Jain Journal 2007 10

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

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with the Saiva cult." The Trisula in Jaina art stands for one of the early symbols of a Lord of the Quarters. In texts, relating to religious and secular architecture, it is prescribed that on the land selected for the construction of a palace, a Kurmasila is to be placed, as a matter more of religious necessity than anything else.' This prescription is followed in also the later texts of the Jains. The Vatthusara-payaraṇam following this tradition lays down the same formulae with regard to the establishment of Kurmasilä. On the eight sides of this are to be placed the eight symbols for the Dikpalas in the eight or more properly nine khuraśilā, one being placed just beneath the Kurmasila. The symbol there used for the eighth Lord of the Quarters is the Triśūla placed on the Sanbhagini slab of stone." Here Trisula symbolises the Tantric character of Isana, the eighth Lord of the Quarters." It really signifies and makes clear one fact, namely, that the idea of a Triad that is all sacred to Buddhism and Jainism in the formation of the Triratna and which dates as early as most probably the Kuśāna period, was one that formed one of the fundamental principles in aniconic religious attitude of the Jain. Attention may in this connection be drawn to a find from the Kankali Tīlla at Mathura." On the front of the pedestal
6.
The association of Trisula with the Saiva cult, is, however, not universal; the use of Trisula with the floating banner is also met with in connection with royal signia which are purely secular in significance--A.K. Coomarswamy, History of Indian & Indonesian Art p. 25 fn..
Vide, Kṣirarnava, attributed to Viśvakarmā.
Paddhaṁ gadḍavivaram jalam tam aha Kakkaram tam Kunaha, Kurumanivesam attham Khurassila tayaņu Sutta vihi. III. 2.
Also cf. The description of a Kurmasila in the Prasadamandana of Sutra DharaMandana-- Ardhangulo bhavet kurma eka haste Suralaya'
Ardhangulat tato vridhiḥ käryä tithi kārā vadhiḥ' ekatrimśat karāntamca tadardha vidhirisyave tatardhapi, sataradhāntaṁ
JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XLII, NO.2 OCTOBER. 2007
7.
8.
kuryadarigulamtanath
caturttham sadhikā jyeṣṭhā kaniṣṭhā hīnayogatah.
quoted in Vathusarapayaranam (Ed. by B. Jain) p. 103. Kṣiraranava of Viśvakarma.
9.
10. Nirvanakalika (Ed. by M. B. Jhaveri) p. 30.
11. J. Ph. Vogel: Catalogue of the Archaeological Museum at Mathura, p. 67 Image No. B.5.