________________
The other Excavated Artefacts of Mathurā
145
not the lion throne as she is standing. The back carving of two full and two half blown lotuses is symbolizing her divine status. Another rail post35 (fig. 103) displays a female, standing under a tree on a dwarf holding a sword with lotus carving at back, advocates her divinity. As per Vividha-tīrtha-kalpa a deity Kuberā who was 'Naravāhana' (the man as a mount) guarded the stūpa. Another railing pillar36 has similar type of carving therefore they might be the guardians of stūpa.
5.10 The adopted Theme of Śālabhañjikā in Sculptures:
Some of the best śālabhañjikās excavated from Mathurā expose the positive side of woman delicacy like - A female playing a harp instrument, lighting a lamp, drying her hair, holding a lamp (fig. 8), throwing a ball with twisted hand, etc. In the southern India beautiful Sālabhañjikā figures are available on the
entrance of gopurams and side walls of the shrines. 5.11 Evolution of śālabhañjikā:
The motif of Śālabhañjikās i.e. upright pillars nearly four feet in height, of early Indian Schools has its root in local festival since ancient times. From there it arrived in scriptures and stone sculptures of stūpa railings, toraņas and shrines. The description of yāna-vimāna of Suryābhadeva is amazing. At the centre of the yāna one huge Preksāgrha was prepared, where the door is flanked by sixteen upright pillars with the depiction of Sālabhañjikā females. The symbolic representation of them at the entrance of the stūpa is available on two Ayāgapatas (fig. 41, 109.). Later on the theme of Sālabhañjikā, woman embellished the railings and gateways got reduced in usage and became less important. Afterwards they have been given a place at the ceiling of mandapas and doorjamb of śringāra-cokis in Jaina shrines. At many places they were not projected as religious symbols but stood only as the graphic account of the contemporary woman life in routine.
5.12 Comparison of Stūpa with Yāna in Rayapaseniyam-sūtra:
If one excludes the imaginary measurement of length and breadth of Yāna-vimāna of Suryābhdeva in Rayapaseniyam sūtra, it appears to be
35 Smith, Jaina Stūpa ...of Mathurā.., pl. LXI 36 Ibid, pl. LX
