Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

Author(s): Renuka J Porwal
Publisher: Prachya Vidyapith

Page 28

The Place of Mathurā in Jainism
tradition of honouring women, as the women wrote down their in-law's names along with their parental pedigrees (Luders List no. 29).
1.6
Historical Background: Mathurā has its own history since the Indus valley civilisation. The early terracotta figurines and other tools recovered, dating back to the 4th century B.C., are hand modelled!3. During the Rāmāyaṇa period Mathurā was ruled by Madhu, a powerful demon. As per legend after his death, his equally strong son Lavaņa ruled the territory. Due to his egoistic nature he challenged Śrī Rāma who later on sent his younger brother Satrughna to overpower him. The demon was killed by Satrughna and the region became free from the demon's rule14. Here, one Jaina stūpa was erected in the memory of the Seventh Tīrthankara Suparsvanātha as per Jaina scriptures 15 viz. Malayagiri-tīkā of Vyavahāra-cūrņi, Ogha-nirykti-tīkā, Yaśastilaka-campū, Tīrtha-mālā, Vividha-tīrtha-kalpa, etc. In the Mahābhārata age, Mathurā was the capital of Sūrsenadeśa, ruled by the Yadava kings. It was one of the fifteen Mahājanpadas. As referred, during the Nanda, Mauryan and Sunga rule, it was part of Magadha. Asoka built some Buddhist stūpas on the bank of the river Yamunā, as mentioned by Hiuen Tsang. Patanjali had also mentioned Mathurā’s prosperity16. In the 2nd century B.C. the city was invaded by Bactrian kings, but they did not stay for long. After the downfall of the Sungas Mathurā came under the Mitra rule, followed by the Saka-Kșatrapa rule. Of these, Rājubala/Rājulā and Šodāsa were remarkable. One of the branches of Sakas was subsequently known as Kuşāņa. A number of inscriptions with the dates of Kuşāņa kings Kaniska, Huviska and Vāsudeva have been found from Mathurā, showing their sovereignity in Mathurā. In the year 50 A.D. they extended their power to Takşaśilā and other states under the leadership of Kujula Kadphises. His successor Kadaphises II was a powerful ruler, also famous as Wemā. They constructed many temples and even installed idols at Mathurā. Most of the inscriptions of the Kuşāņa period provide us with the names of ruling kings and the
13 Trivedi S. D., A guide book to the Archaeological Section of the State Museum- Lucknow,
(Lucknow, Shivam Arts, 1997), pp. 12-13, fig. 6. 14 Sharma R. C., The splendour of Mathurā, (New Delhi, D. K. Print world (P) Ltd.,
1993), pp. 29. 15 See the detail in the chapter, The tradition of stūpa. in Jainism, in this book. 16 Sharma R. C., The Jaina Tirtha Karkāli, 1971, pp. 3.