Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 31

The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
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later took Dīksā from him 25. The past history of Mathurā is narrated by Jinaprabhasūri in Vividha-tīrtha-kalpa in the 13th century. He talked about twelve vanas/forests, one of which was Bhamdīrā where Yakşa Sudarśana's shrine was situated. Pārsvanātha visited this shrine26. This shows that yaksa worship was in vogue in Jainism. Jaina culture at Mathurā: Jainism has considered Mathurā as a holy city since ancient times. The excavations at Mathurā brought to light many symbols that indicate the worship of Jina on Āyāgapatas (tablets of homage). Here the concept of adoration of the three jewels i.e. the first step in getting liberation/ moksa - Right knowledge, Right faith together with right conduct is depicted on Ayāgapața. Symbols such as caitya-tree, śrīvatsa, stūpa, wheel, svastika, a pair of fish etc. were also seen either-on Āyāgapața or available independently for veneration. One elephant pillar obtained from the site was the object of veneration as indicated by the inscription on it. Another pillar assigned to the 2nd century B.C. has a lion on its top and is being worshipped by a couple by circumnavigating (fig. 9, 10). Due to the prevailing tree cult practice, many times Arhata idols were shown with the branches of the caitya tree and așța pratihārya in the nimbus. Besides complete sculptures, some mutilated images, heads of Jinas, door lintels, base of the pillars, chatra etc. are obtained from the site. Of them, one head is 75 cm in height, indicating the gigantic height of images at stūpa and shrines. In Jainism, 24 Tīrthankaras are worshipped but only one image, depicting 24 Tīrthankaras (Covisi) having Rşabhadeva (fig. 11) as the principal (Mulanāyaka) was found from Kankālī Tīlā assigned to the 3rd century A.D.27. Here colossal images of Tīrthankaras were in vogue, particularly Jina Rsabhadeva (fig. 12). Here four Jinas - Rsabhadeva, Aristanemi, Pārsvanātha and Vardhamānasvāmī are more in number while two images of Munisuvratasvāmi28 and one each of śāntinātha and Sambhavanātha
25 Sharma R. C., The Jaina Tirtha Karkāli, 1971, pp. 3. 26 Shah U. P. and Ernest Bender, Mathura and Jainism in "Mathurā- The cultural Heritage”
ed. Doris Meth Srinivasan, (Delhi, AIIS, 1989), 211. 27 Smith V., Jaina Stūpa and other Antiqities from Mathurā (Allahabad, ASI, New Imperial
Series, V. XX, 1900) Pl. XCIV. 28 I) H. Luders, List of Brahmi Inscriptions From Earlier Time, in Appendix, E.I. Vo. X,
ed. Sten Konow (New Delhi, ASI, 1909-10), no. 47, 9. II) Banerji R.D., E. I. Vo. X: 1901-10, no. VIII.