Jain Stupa and Other Antiquities of Mathura

Author(s): Vincent A Smith
Publisher: Vincent A Smith

Page 44

( 13 ) Buddhist. When the inscription under viscussion was executed, not later than A. D. 157 (79 + 78), the Vodva (Skr. Votva) Stúpe of the Jains at Mathura was already so ancient that it was regarded as the work of the gods. It was probably, therefore, creeted several centuries before the Christian era, and may have been at least is ancient as the oldest Buildhist Slújre. The record also yives interesting details of the internal coustitution of the Jain church, the significance of which has been discussed by Bühler (op. cit.) and Führer?
Bühler was fortunate enough to discover in the "Tirthakalja," or "Rajprasada" of Jinaprabha, a fourteenth century work based on ancient materials, the legend of the foundation and repair of this very “ Stúprt, built by the gods."
According to this work, the Stape was originally of gold, adorned with precious stones, and wils erected in honour of the seventh Jina, Supars vanath, by the goddess Kubera at the desire of two asceties named Dharmaruchi and Dharmayhosha. In the time of the twenty-third Jina, Pårøvanáth, the golden Stap was encased in bricks, and a stone temple was built outside.
The sanctuary was restored in honour of Parsvanath by Bappa Bhattisfuri, " thirteen hundred years after the lord Vira la reached perfection."
Assuming the ordinarily received ate, B. C. 527, for the death of Mahavira to be correct, the attainment of perfection by that saint may be placed about B. C. 550). The restoration of the Stúpi may be dated about 1300 years later, or A. 1). 750. Its original erection in brick in the time of Parsvanath, the predecessor of Mahavira, wouid fall at it cutent later than B. C. 600. Considering the significance of the phrase in the inscription - built by the gods" as indicating that the building at about the beginning of the Christian erat was believed to date from a period of mythical antiquity, the date B. C. 600 for its first crection is not too early. Probably, therefore, this Stap, of which Dr. Fübrer exposed the foundations, in the oldest known building in India.
" Progress Report" for 1800-91, pp. 18-10. I "A Logoud of the Jain Stapant Mathura." ("Sitinngaberer der der Kain kalewie der Winterhaften in Wien, 1907.)