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The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
The directions given for preparing vimāna isn't wide, in comparison of its ready position to take off. The procession feature, distribution of seats (Bhadrāsanas) for deities are also well arranged43. The hall was constructed with many simhāsanas decorated with conch, Kunda flower, water drops made of gems etc. The ceiling of the hall was covered with vijaya-dusya cloth having hooks. Here many chandeliers made of pearls were suspended, when they strike sweet sound is produced. Besides, the yāna was adorned with a pair of nāgadantas/elephant tusk (elephant also calls nāga). The series of silver bowls were suspended with scented sticks, bunch of flowers etc. on nāgadanta pairs44. The hall was also adorned with perforated windows, bells, toranas, lotus buds etc. Many of the motifs were studded with precious jewels45. Lastly the dramatization of thirty two types of dance and drama performed in the presence of Mahāvīra and his Ganadharas are described in detail. Execution of some of the dance postures are-available on Mathurā sculptures. Suryābhadeva with his deva retinue reached at Mahāvīra's resting place. They bowed down their heads and adored him. Suryābha produced some musical instruments with his power & commands deva clan to perform the dance with their movement. Accordingly they formed viz. svastika, śrīvatsa, vardhamānaka etc. eight auspicious symbols. The symbol svastika is clearly
43 ४९- तस्स णं सीहासणस्स उवरि एत्थ णं महेगं विजयदुसं विउव्वति,संख-कुंद-दगरय- अमय- महियफेणपुंज
-संनिगासं सव्वरयणामयं अच्छं सण्डं पासादीयं दरिसणिज्जं अभिरुवं पडिरुवं । ५०- तस्स णं सीहासणस्स उवरिं विजयदुसस्स य बहुमज्झदेसभागे एत्थ णं महं एगं वयरामयं अंकुसं विउव्वति ।
- Rayapasaniya sutta 44 १२५- तेसि णं णागदंताणां उवरि अन्नाओ सोलस-सोलस नागदंतपरिवाडीओ पन्नता,... समाणाउसो !
तेसु णं णागदंतएसु बहवे रययामया सिक्कगा पन्नता तेसु णं रययामएसु सिक्कएसु बहवे वेरुलियामईओ धूवघडीओ पण्णत्ताओ, ताओ णं धूवघडीओ कालागुरुपवरकुंदुरूक्कतुरुक्कधूवमघमघंतगंधुधुयाभिरामाओ सुगंधवरगंधियातो गंधवट्टिभूयाओ ओरालेणं मणुण्णेणं मणहरेणं घाणमणणिव्वुइकरेणं गंधेणं ते पदेसे सव्वओ समंता आपूरेमाणा आपूरेमाणा जाव (सिरीए अतीव अतीव उवसोभेमाणा उवसोभेमाणा) चिट्ठति । A pair of suspnded Nagadanta/ elephant tusk could be seen on V. Smih, Jaina Stupa...
at Mathurā, pl. LXXXIII. 45 १२७ - तेसिणं दाराणं उभओ पासे दुहओ णिसीहियाए सोलस सोलस जालकडगपरिवडओि पन्नत्ता, ते
णं जालकडगा सव्वरयणामया अच्छा जाव पडिरूवा । १२८- तेसि णं दाराणं उभओ पासे दुहओ निसीहियाए सोलस सोलस घंटापरिवाडीओ पन्नत्ता, तासि णं घंटाणं इमेयारुवे वन्नावासे पन्नत्ते. १३२ - तेसिं णं दाराणं उभओ पासे सोलस सोलस तोरणा पन्नत्ता, णाणामणिमया णाणामणिमएसु खंभेसु उवणिविट्ठसन्निविट्ठा जाव पउम-हत्थगा।
- Rayapasaniya sutta
