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The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
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as a ruler of Dvāraka while Ariṣṭanemi renounced the world in his presence. From these scriptural references and images of Aristanemi with Balrama - Kṛṣṇa, Jacobi and Srivastava as well as M. N. Tivari clarify that they were assimilated in Jaina faith before the Christian era. The two individual images of Balarama found from Samkisa and Kaǹkālī Tīlā, where the inscribed image from Samkisa is flanked by a Jaina ascetic and two devotees (fig. 91, 92) with an attractive carving of makara on reverse (c. 1st A. D.). This is now housed at Switzerland in a private collection. It was displayed at County Museum, Los Angeles, in an exhibition pertaining to 'Jaina Art from India'. Later on, the photographs of displayed artefacts were published Thames and Hudeson under the heading 'The peaceful Liberators'. Here Balarama is sitting in lalitasana with a club behind his right arm raised to bless the devotees. According to Dr. Hartel, the partially legible inscription also identifies the deity as Balarama 10. The other standing image (fig. 29, G. 215 LM) of Balarama from Kankālī Tīlā has a canopy of snake over his head. He is holding a long ploughshare (hala) with left hand while small club (musala) in the right. This is his earliest representation, assigned to 2nd century B.C. which may be affiliated to Jaina pantheon, if one compares the same with above discussed images.
Mathura is the famous ancient seat of Vaisnavism. Besides Katra-Kesavadeva, many shrines of Kṛṣṇa -Dāuji (Balarama) still existing and are visited by devotees. This emphasises that a popular cult of Balarama existed here. It is possible that Jaina Sangha of Mathura, realised their popularity and incorporated them in Jaina pantheon separately or with Aristanemi. About 15 images of Aristanemi with his cousins acquired from Mathurā where one is of medieval period (accn. no. 2000.42 MM.) found from Dampier Nagar, Mathura. It is only a fragment showing a corner part of Jina Neminatha where Balarama could be recognised with his snake hood.
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I) Tivari M. N., Jain Pratimãā...., pp. 33.
II) Antagaḍa-dasão, ed., L.D. Barnet, (Varansi, reprint, 1973), 12.
Tivari, Jain Pratima.., pp. 33.
Ed., Thames and Hudson, '(The Peaceful Liberators), The Jaina Art from India' (Los Angeles, County Museum, 1996), pl. 53.
10 Ibid. pp. 53 with plate.
