Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 34

The Place of Mathura in Jainism
carts etc. with his super natural powers, running for eight days. Then the sage erected a stupa which was called 'Devanirmita'. This legend was recorded in the 10th century A.D., nearly 400 years earlier than Jinaprabhasūri's account of Mathura in Vividha-tirtha-kalpa.
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From the Campū Kavya of Somadeva, it seems that in Mathura, kings and subjects were first influenced by Jainas. They had introduced a yearly procession during the Jaina festival. The Buddhist queen's attempts to organise a rival rathayātrā failed due to Vajrakumāra's intervention. Buddhists' efforts to spread their religion didn't meet with success at that time. Even this narration of early Christian era is archaeologically supported. A torana archway33 (fig. 19, 20) depicts on both sides a city procession, as mentioned by Somadeva, which are easily recognisable on the door lintel.
Writing and revised Jaina Agamas in councils were called vacanās. The first vācanã took place at Paṭalīputra in Magadha, 160 years after Mahāvīra's nirvāṇa, the second one took place at Udaygiri-Khandagiri, 300 years after Mahāvīra's nirvāṇa, i.e. 2nd century B.C. while the 3rd one at Mathura under the leadership of Arya Skandilācārya, 827 years after the nirvāṇa of Mahāvīra i.e. in the 3rd century A.D. He had carried out Agama Vacana in the front of Jaina Sangha at Mathura. During Vihara, Ārya Rakṣitasūrī stayed at Bhūta-guha-caitya, as pointed out by R. C. Sharma34. vācanā period at Mathura. Many seers have referred to Mathura's stūpa in their literature till the end of Akbar's rule. During the vacanā convention, many Acāryas and ascetics must have gathered for a long period in that city. In general the Sangha of that city took the responsibility of their dietary (gocari) and other needs. The reference of restoration of damaged manuscripts of Maha-niśitha-sutra by Jinabhadra Kṣamāśramaņa at stūpa is available in Vividha-tirtha-kalpa. Here, the Acarya first pleased the deity (Śrutadevatā) with austerity and meditation. Then, with her blessings, the same was rewritten. This information shows that at the time of vācanā at Mathura, some scriptures were written and stored at the stupa.
Jina images are also obtained from Cobārā Tīlā, Mahāban, Mukund kuvā and other places, besides Kankālī and Corasi Tīlās. 'Mukund' is the name of the yakṣa where the famous Lonaśobhika's Ayagapata was
33 Smith V., Jaina Stupa and other Antiqities from Mathura, 1901, pl. XIX. 34 Sharma R. C., The Jaina Tirtha Kankali, 1971, pp. 4.