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The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
Gautom Svami is requested to bow-down to some of the deities while passing their shrines which included Aryā / Ajjā too (pp. 346, 347). The above Āyāgapatta of Āryāvatī and Kanha Śramaņa-Vidyā inform us that they were recognised as a subject of worship as a deity. The deity Āryāvatī first appeared in Kșatrapa period and later on a separate cult of her worship is established in Jainism. Above mentioned three sculptures with their full detail are given below.
The Sarasvatī's first image established in the year 54 of Kuşāņa period provides much information of her separate cult of worship. The inscription (LL. 54) on the pedestal is “Siddham! In the year 54, in the 4th month of winter, on the 10th day one image of Sarasvatī, the gift of the goldsmith Govā, son of Simha (made) at the instance of the Vācaka (preacher) Ārya-Deva, the Sraddhacaro of the Ganin Ācārya Māghahasti, the disciple of the preacher Arya Hastahasti (or Nāgahasti) from the Kottiya gaña, the Sthāniya kula, the Vaira śākhā and the Śrigraha Sambhogas has been setup at Ranga mandapa for the welfare of all beings.” The second sculpture is established by Amohini for worshiping the deity Aryāvatī, this is the oldest available inscribed sculpture from Kankālī Tīlā. In this Āyāgapatta, Āryāvatī is standing in a centre. One cavardhāri lady is standing to her left while a woman on her right holds a parasol and another flower garland. One devotee is standing near her feet. The Āyāgapatta is decorated with beautiful vandanvāra like Bhārhut sculptures. Now in the third sculpture of Kanha Sramana the deity Vidyā is standing in varada mudrā. The deity has turned her dupattā around her left hand in very stylistic manner like Āryāvatī. This sculpture of Kanha Áramana is in two registers, the upper contains a stūpa in between the two pairs of Tīrthankaras wearing crowns. The lower larger register has a depiction of a deity as described above with the name Vidyā, the Jaina Śramaņa holds a rajoharana & a mukhavastrikā, a Śrāvaka with canopy, one lady ascetic with rajoharana & two women devotees are standing with folded hands. In both sculptures only devotees are standing with folded hands but not the monks. A female ascetic is also shown not adoring any deities, but only Jinas. Here ‘Vidyā' is engraved near the deity while “Kaņha' is near śramaņa showing that he is Arya Kanha.
