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The Place of Mathurā in Jainism
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1.11 The Elucidation of Jaina Tradition through 'Deva Nirmita Stūpa’:
To comprehend the history of Jainism many excavated artefacts and inscriptions from Mathurā's stūpa play an important role. It is impossible to judge Jainas' past without knowing them. They provide the authentic
ds of Jainas' sects and sub-sects. The related Jaina terms - Mula Sangha, Māthura Sangha, Gaccha, etc. are available on inscriptions. Here Jaina's ideals like austerity, detachment, Rathayātrā, the Sālabhañjikās with offerings, etc. have been chiselled on sculptures marvellously. The inscribed ascetic order kula, gana and sākhā have their roots in Kalpasūtra, Nardisūtra and other Therāvalis. Kotika gana and Veri śākhā still continue with Svetāmbara tradition. The compilation of Jaina literature at Mathurā must took place at Deva nirmita stūpa, as referred in Vividha-tīrtha-kalpa. Acārya Ksamāśramana adored Srutadevi Sarasvati at this stūpa. Here, the world's most ancient image of Sarasvatī with the inscription of establishment in Kuşāņa period holding folded Manuscript was brought to light. The Sarvatobhadra images of Kuşāņa period are the unique product of Mathurā art school. The findings of inscribed Jaina images of early and late Kuşāņa period put western scholars in amazement, as they considered Jainism not as a separate religion, but an off-shoot of Buddhism. They wanted to know the fact, regarding authenticity of Jainism before Mahāvīira. Historians like Lassen, Barth, and Albrecht Weber believed it was a Buddhist schism, while Princep, E. Thomas, Mrs. Stevenson, Jacobi and some other historians held that it is older than Buddhism56. To avoid conflicting situations, a debate was held among them for verification. One theory believed that Jainism arose out of Buddhism, while another theory strongly opposed this on the ground that Niganțhas or Nirgranthas or Jainas existed before Gautam Buddha - the founder of Buddhism. One of the participants, Herman Jacobi, proved from Pāli literature that Jainism did not arise from Buddhism and the 23rd Tīrthankara Pārsvanātha lived before Buddha. Other participants, Mr. Lassen and Mr. Barth, doubted the authenticity of Jainism before Mahāvīra, as it was fixed mostly from Svetāmbara canon. During this period, J. G. Buhler entered in debate with his immense knowledge of seventeen years of moving around in India. He had sent much Jaina literature to Europe in the form of Manuscripts. He sided with Barth and Lassen earlier, but afterwards he supported Jacobi. In the meantime, Cunningham had discovered some
56 H. Luders, 1961.op. cit., pp. 40.
