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- MATHURA
the body of Buddha. The Mathura Buddha and Bodhisattva images of the Kushan period provide visual evidence to support the literary statement. The Jainas, too, in a number of cases adopted this practice for the images of their teachers. The wheel-symbol on the open palms of the Jina images and the whool and tri-ratna on the soles aro very common. In rare cases (e.g. SML, J.36) tri-ratna is absent on the soles. The practice of depicting auspicious symbols like svastika, frivatsa, mina, inverted tri-ratna, Sarikha, etc., in miniature forms on finger-ends was also adopted by some sculptors (e.g. SML, J.17, J.19, J.40). Similar symbols sometimes appear on the soles as well (e.g. SML, J.29). Apart from these the appearance of frivatsa on the chest was popular in the Kushan Tirthankara figures.
In Gupta times the practice of depicting sacred symbols underwent the following changes:
(1) Miniature symbols at the finger-ends vanished.
(2) While the appearance of a wheel on the open palm did continue for while (e.g. AMM, B.1), in subsequent years this too was either given up (e.g. AMM, B.7, plate 46) or made insignificant.
(3) Instead, the three natural lines significant in palmistry-viz. lines of head, heart and life-appear very prominently. The lines of mani-bandha did continue to exist.
(4) The srivatsa-mark on the chest continued throughout. The old form of a fish flanked by two snakes' became very much decorative. The development of the Srivatsa in the Gupta period over the Kushan representations is shown in fig. VIII. Incidentally it may be observed that generally this mark is visible on the chest of the Gupta Tirthankara images hailing from Mathură only, At other places this is mostly absent.
ABSENCE OF CHATRA AND LANCHANA Before we close, it is essential to note the absence of a few things. The first is an umbrella or chatra; none of the cxisting Gupta figures of Tirtharikaras bears a chatra over its head. The idea of chatro-traya and chatravalt is a
later development.
Lalitoninara, ed. S. Lomaan, Hulle, 1902, pp. 105-c... ' . .:: N. P. Joshi, Uk of stupicious symbols in the Kusini azt at Mathuri'. Dr Mirashi Felicitation YorienneNagel, 1965, pp. 311-17.':,
