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The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
The first image (fig. 122, J 143 LM.) displayed in the front of Museum has a following text;
Samvat 1036 (or 1038) kārtika Suklā ekādaśyāṁ SriSvetāmbara M(ū)la Sanghena pascima catu (śthi)
Kayaṁ Śri Devanirimitā pratimā pratisthāpitā'. The second image J 144 LM. has an inscription with its text as follows
'Svetāmbara ... Māthura... Devanimmitā... pratisthāpitā'. The inscription on third image J.145 LM. Reads
"Samvat 1134 Śrisvetāmbara ŠriMāthurasangha Sridevateti
Viniramitā Pratimākrita'. Out of above three inscriptions, first refers Svetāmbara Mūla Sangha while other two refer Svetāmbara Māthura Sangha. Here in the second line of the first inscription (J.143 LM), the word “Svetāmbara' is clearly readable, but after that, 'Ma' is readable but the 'La' is not clear. Dr. Fuhrer read the word as "Mūla” as per the record of Lucknow Mesuum. Dr. Jain S. is also of the same opinion that the word is "Mūla”. Even 'Sanghena' is clearly readable. Other two images were established nearly after 100 years. From the inscriptions and the excavation site of above three images it is very clear that they all belonged to same art School. The pedestal of image no. J 145 shows two monks with Rajoharana in their hands similar to Svetāmbara tradition. Dr. Fuhrar stated that the dedicated inscriptions were made by the Svetāmbara community. Besides above three inscriptions, one more of Kuşāņa period (L.L.no.47) states that it was established at Deva Nirmitā shrine. Here all four inscriptions support that they were set up at 'Sri deva nirmite' (stūpa). Thus in Mathurā, Jaina Sangha was using this name since centuries (prior to 1st A.D.) for the stūpa premises which later on called Jaini Tilā after destruction. It is apparent from Vividha-tirtha-kalpa and other Jaina canons that the stūpa at Mathurā was 'Deva nirmita'. It's renovatation was carried out by Acārya Bappabhattasūri in 769 A.D. The kalpa also narrates that Ksamāśramana Jinabhadrasūri had rewritten the text Mahā-niśitha-sūtra followed by the renovation of the stūpa and shrine.
