Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 35

The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
obtained flanked by two Śālabhañjikās J63 and J64 MM., (fig. 21, 22). This Āyāgapața informs us that she erected a hall for prayer, a reservoir and a shrine (Arhatāyana).
1.9 The grandeur of Mathura in Jaina Tradition:
In Brahat-kalpa-bhāsya, there is a mention of 96 villages around Mathurā, where Arhat images were established for ensuring good fortune. Such type of information is also provided by Jinaprabhasūri, that the local people installed Arhat images on the door lintel for protection as stipulated by the deity. The city of Mathurā became famous by Kevali Jambūsvāmī who received Kevala-jñāna here. His Nirvāņa took place at Corāsī which later on recognised as a Siddhakşetra. At Corāsī Tīlā, the ancient inscribed foot print of Jambūsvāmī (fig. 17) was obtained with other magnificent sculptures such as door lintels, Sālabhañjikās, idols, etc. As mentioned in the 17th century Rasa by Devavimalji, that Hirvijayjī arrived at Mathurā on his way to Agra and adored 527 stūpas. Later, in Vikram Samvat 1667 Hirvijayaji's disciple Vivekaharsa-gani established Jambusvamī's foot print35 at Corasi temple afterwards they were damaged by invaders. The beautiful Digambara Jaina shrine was constructed in early 19th century by local Sangha with a caitya-stambha in the court-yard. During excavation at Kankālī Tīlā in December 1889, three images of Svētāmbara sect were obtained from a shrine close to the central shrine/ stūpa. They were established at "Śrī Devateti’, meaning the place established by deities'. The city was plundered by Gazni in
35 समहं मथुरापुर्यो यात्रां पार्श्वसुपार्श्वयोः ।
प्रभुः परीतः पौरौघौश्चारणर्षिरिवाकरोत् ।। २४९ ।। प्रभु हीरविजयसूरि: मथुरापुर्यां मधुपघ्ननगरे समहं सोत्सवं चारणर्षिविद्याजंघाचारणादिमुनिरिव पौरौघै नागरिकनिकरैः परितः परिवृतः संघेन सहितः पार्श्वसुपार्श्वयोस्त्रयोविंशतितमसप्तमजिनचंद्र प्रतिमयोर्यात्रामकरोच्च कृतवान् ।। जम्बू प्रभवमुख्यानां मुनीनामिह स प्रभुः। ससप्तविंशतिं पञ्चशती स्तूपान्प्रणेमिवान् ।। २५० ।। स प्रभुहीरसूरिहैव मथुरानगर्यां जम्बूनाममहावीरदेवस्य द्वितिय पट्टधरः,चरमकेवली प्रभवनामा तृतियः पट्टधरः, तौ मुख्यौ प्रकष्टावाद्यौ वा येषां तेषां मुनिनामुपलक्षणात्साध्वीनामपि परं तन्मध्यवर्तिनामेव सहसप्तविंशत्या वर्तते या तादृशीं पञ्चशती स्तूपान् प्रणेमिवान्नमति स्म । पञ्चशती प्रभवस्वामिसहिता चौरसाधूनां जंबूस्वामियुक्तानामष्टानां कनीनां नवनामपि मातृपितृणां नव त्रिभिर्गुणिताः सप्तविंशतिर्जातं यथोक्तमानं सप्तविंशत्यधिका पञ्चशतींस्तूपाः सन्तीति ।। -मथुरायात्रा ।। हीरसौभाग्यम् । १४ सर्गः ७२९,
(Devavimal, HirSaubhagyam Rasa, 14th Sargah, pp. 729).