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The other Excavated Artefacts of Mathurā
143
the branch or simply shown with creeper over them, they are related to Bhārhut so likely to go back to 2nd century B.C.
5.8
Scriptural References: The reference of carving a pair of female figures on either side of the entrance of a shrine is available in Rgveda28. The term Śālbhanjikā described in Buddhist literature 29 as the women plucking or gathering flowers at the festivals. Śālabhañjikā in Rayapaseņiyam-sūtra: According to Rayapaseniyam-sūtra, the doors of the vimāna of Suryābhadeva is flanked with sixteen Śālabhañjikās standing in varied graceful postures on railings attracting every one with their different modes. They were portrayed in various creative displays, colourful dresses, heavy jewellery, beautiful ornamentation, necklaces of various designs having slender waist, round prominent breasts, red cornered eyes and black curly hair. They stand under Asoka trees and hold its extended branch stealing the hearts of even gods as they were with their rolling glances and teasing as they were with play of their eyes.30 Prof. V.S.Agrawala noticed the reference of Salabhanjikas in Raypasaniyamsūtra, he compares them with railings and toranas of stūpa at Mathurā, Bhārhut, Bodhagayā and Sāñchi. Prof. comments: “That the beauty of the female figures was noticed in ancient India showing that the art connoisseurs were conscious about the fact of feminine beauty which has made the Kusāna Art of Mathurā such a loving subject in the eyes of modern critics31.”
28 Rgveda (IX. 5.5). 29 Nidānkathā and Avadānsataka no. 53. 30 D तेसि णं दाराणं उभओ पासे दुहओ णिसीहियाए सोलस सोलस सालभंजियापरिवाडीओ पन्नत्ताओ,
ताओ णं सालभंजियाओ लीलट्ठियाओ, सुपइट्ठियाओ, सुअलंकियाओ, णाणाविहरागवसणाओ, णाणामल्लपिणद्धाओ, मुट्ठिगिज्झसुमज्झाओ, आमेलगजमलजुयल - वट्टिय-अब्भुन्नय पीणरइयसंठियपी वरपओहराओ, रत्तावंगाओ, असियकेसीओ, मिउविसयपसत्थ - लक्खणसंवेल्लियग्ग- सिरयाओ ईसिं असोगवरपायवसमुट्ठियाओ वामहत्थग्गहियग्गसालाओ ईसिं अद्धच्छिकडक्खचिट्ठिएणं लूसमाणीओ विव चक्खुल्लोयणलेसेहि य अन्नमन्नं खिज्जमाणीओ विव पुढविपरिणामाओ, सासयभावमुवगयाओ, चन्दाण णाओ,चन्दविलासिणीओ, चन्दद्धसमणिडालाओ, चंदाहियसोमदंसणाओ, उक्का विव उज्जोवेमाणाओ, वि ज्जुघणमिरियसूरदिप्पंततेयअहिययरसन्निकासाओ सिंगारागारचारुवेसाओ पासाइयाओ जाव (दरिसणिज्जाओ अभिरूवाओ पडिरूवाओ) चिट्ठति।
- Gatha, 126, Raypaseniyasutta, pp 66-67. II) Agrawal P. k., Mathurā Railing Pillars. 1966., pp. 6. 31 Agrawal P. K., ibid., pp 6.
