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The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
Nimbus: Jina images of Kuşāna period are available with or without back support, containing simple prabhāmandala/nimbus/halo. The available variety is scalloped border (fig. 52) or full blown lotus (fig. 81) or emerging rays (fig. 83), from the back of head. It is not considered as an essential part of an image. The earliest carving on the halo is simple or scalloped boarder also called hastinakha (B. 63, B. 69, B. 70, B. 71 MM. and J. 230, J. 239, J. 244. J. 245 LM.). The next comes scalloped border
with bead strings and/or emerging sunrays (fig. 115, 136). 3.14 The carving of auspicious symbols on palms, toes of Jinas and
snakehood of Parsvanatha: Many of the images of Kuşāņa period are chiselled with auspicious symbols on their fingertips, palm's and toes (J. 4 LM., J. 19 LM., J. 17 LM.). The images nos. J. 19, J. 4, J. 29. LM have a wheel and a three jewels symbols on their toes. A svastika is embossed on a thumb of Jina (J. 19 LM.). In some cases a wrist is carved with maņibandha looking like a triangle (J. 6, J. 70 and J. 17 LM.). The snake hood of Pārsvanātha also, often seen with such carving. A Pārsvanātha image of 2nd century A.D. (fig. 84, B. 62 MM,) has svastika, vardhamānaka, śrīvatsa, pitcher, a pair of fish and three jewels depicted on his canopy.
3.15 Lions on pedestal:
The seats on which Tīrthankaras are resting vary from Kuşāņa to Gupta and to medieval period. The artists of Mathurā school have projected lions on corners of the pedestal in many varieties when Jina is sitting in Padmāsana - front and side view, sometimes with a svastika on face while in some cases turning their neck in a variety of manner. The caturvidha sangh on either side of dharmacakra continued up to late Gupta period. Later on they were carved according to texts like the Mānasara, etc. The adorant figures in sitting posture on pedestal flanking the wheel are always depicted in caitya-vandan mudrā (fig.85). Many Kuşāna sculptures are available in round carving of Mathurā school. Jina images were also not exceptional in such carving (5.7 LM.). Some of them are available with the carving of caiya-vřksa on back of the images (J. 81, J. 117, J. 120 LM.). Even the Āyāgapatas contain inscriptions at back with grapes border like Hellanic art. In Gupta period the seat
