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એપ્રિલ ૧૯૫૮
Caparisoned horses as they appear on the bottom frieze (first and third horse from the left) are unusual. The motif recurs on a memorial pillar from Terahi, now on the premises of the Gujari Mahal Museum, Fort Gwalior10. The unidentified figures on the extreme left and right of the bottom panel have nothing to do with the horsemen. On account of the remaining portions and on account of numerous parallels, we can restore the
attributes in the hands of the principal figures as follows: fruit / child
fruit / child 11. An exact dating of our two images will hardly be possible. Medieval pieces of the same style need not be contemporaneous, and medieval pieces of different style do not necessarily belong to different periods. It seems therefore hazardous to assign on stylistic grounds an accurate date to sculptures of the 10th-11th centuries.
mm
(10) Annual Administration Report of the
Archaeological Department Gwalior State for 1934-35, Pl. Vb : left-most pillar, third panel from top.
(11) St. Kramrisch, I. c. Pl. LIV.
Mahāvīra was one of the great teachers of mankind. He was indeed one of those teachers through whom the problem of the perfection of man came to be recognized as the highest problem before progressive humanity. All the rules of religious life which he had enjoined, were intended to be a practical aid to the attainment of perfection of the self. He did not preach to others which he had not practised himself. The goal set before mankind was the blissfulness of the entire being which could not be brought by the wealth and pomp and power of the world. This happy state is to be attained through patience, forbearance, self-denial, forgiveness, humanity, compassion, and consideration, in short, sufferings and sacrifice, love and kindness.
-Dr. B. C. Law
Mahavira was never indifferent to the well-being of his Sangha. He worked strenuously for and took interest in the minutest details of the organization. One is amazed to find in him this rare combination af absolute negation of desires and immense interest in action. Mahāvīra was neither a 'delicate mystic' nor an energetic prophet'. He was a thorough-going rationalist who would base his action on his conviction, unmindful of the context of established custom or inherited tradition. This is the keynote of the personality of Lord Mahavira.
-Dr. Bool Chand
