Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 33

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The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
Mathura was a famous centre for Jainas and continued to be so, up to the reign of Kusana king Vasudeva (rule for 50 years) as per the available image inscriptions. In the view of B. Laufer, Buddhism might have been strongly influenced by Jainism during that period29.
The prominent Jaina Sangha of Mathura was known as Mathura Sangha. This Sangha established many idols and toranas at Lädanun in Rajasthan in the 12th century with the blessings of Guru Anantakirti30. Besides the stupa and other temples at Kaňkālī Tīlä, a temple at Corăsi (fig. 16) was already there, built in the memory of Jambusvāmi31. His foot print (fig. 17) was recovered and established at this location. Jainism is a religion which combines science with spirituality. Fasting is an essential step towards spiritual development. Here at Mathura, Śrāvaka-Śrävikäs performing austerities could be judge from a pedestal of Tirthankara Vardhamana, dated, Kuṣāņa era 50, obtained from Kankäli Tilä. It has an inscription that the same was established by a lady. Vijayaśrī, who fasted for a month (J. 22 LM., fig. 18).
The Jaina culture at Mathura is narrated in the Jaina epic 'Yaśastilakacampü'32 composed by Somadeva in the 10th century CE, which describes. many myths and legends of Jainism. According to it, Jainas and Bauddhas lived side by side in the city of Mathura. The chief queen was at follower of Jainism and organised a procession in honour of Jinas every year. The other queen was a Buddhist and tried to hinder the tradition. and replace it with a new procession, favouring the Buddha. The first queen approached the sage Somadatta, who was once a king, but later on accepted monkhood. He was performing austerity in a jungle near Mathura. He took the help of his Vidyadhara son Vajrakumāra for this purpose. Vajrakumāra organised a huge procession with flags, banners, parasols, golden jars, offerings in large plates, chariots, elephants, decorated
29 I) J. E. Van Lohuizen- de. Leeuw, The Scythian Period, (Leiden, E. J. Brill, 1949) Pp. 153.
II) B. Laufer, Citra laksana, 1913, fn. pp. 17-18., fn. on pp. 153 in The Scythian Period.
30 I) Samvat 1206 Vaisakha śu. 13, shri Mathura Sanghe. Jima..Śrī Anantakirtī Surinam pratisthita....//
II) Samvat 1219" Vaisakha su. 3 shuke, //shri Mathura Sanghe. // Acharya Sri Anantakirti....Sarasvatim Pranamati // Shubhamastu/ /
- Dr. Jethamal Sethi, Shri Digambar Jain Bada Mandir ka Puratatvik Vaibhava, (Ladanun, dist. Raj., Jain Mandir, 2nd edi. 2009)
31 Fn. 9 of this chapter.
32 Handiqui K.K., Yasastilaka-campu and Indian culture, (Sholapur, 1949), pp. 416-17...