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152
The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
was having a horse ride, Bodhisatva, etc. are available from Mathurā. In the same manner the sculpture of Rsabhanātha's renunciation after seeing the dance of Nilānjanā (fig. 13) obtained from Kankāli Tilā. Such depictions are exhibited in the form of paintings and murals in many shrines till today viz-Vardhamāna wanted to be an ascetic after the death of parents and seeking permission from brother Nandivardhana. In a relief60 from the site Kankāli Tilā, Vardhamāna is asking for permission to be an ascetic (fig. 124). Here he has not accepted the monkhood so he is shown with linens and surrounded by friends. Here his elder brother wears a turban as a sign of the status of a king. In this relief a pillar is shown with a lion on a top which is the emblem of Mahāvīra. While discussing this relief in 'Scythian Period' the author, Dr. J. E. Van Lohuizen de Leeuw raised the problem that here a chief personality under the umbrella is wearing clothes so he won't be Vardhamāna. But this chief personality is Vardhamāna, as described in Kalpasūtra and on numerous sculptures and paintings in Jaina shrines. He is in royal dress as he has not yet accepted the monkhood. He is asking permission to renounce the world. Another life size statue61 in varada wearing royal dress and ornaments though without head is unique. His necklace has a prominent carving of śrīvatsa, symbol in Pendant which comes on his chest. Therefore he might be the image of, Vardhamāna, though, in Lucknow Museum, it is labelled as Buddha. One of the images, 62 labelled by Dr. Fuhrer as a “sculptured panel representing “Vardhamāna preaching to Royalty, seated under a Bodhi tree though there is no Bodhi tree but scalloped nimbus (fig. 125). While observing carefully it is noticed that the sculpture is in two registers - upper and lower. In the upper part a saint is meditating sitting in padmāsana on a tri linear seat wearing a lower linen and necklace. His hands are stretched maximum like early Kuşāņa period images. He is flanked by two Indras recognised with their crowns. The saint is flanked by Indras recognised by their typical crown seems to be Acuta and Vidyunmāli Indras adoring him with folded hands. On the top of upper register, four deities are worshipping the seated personality. As per Ācāranga-sūtra, when Vardhamāna wanted to
60 Smith V., Jaina Stūpa at Mathurā...pl. XVII. 61 B. 12 LM, ; ibid., pl. LXXXVII 62 Smith V. ibid., pl no.LXXXV
