Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 55

The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
// "Śrī Pāsanāhasahium rammam Sirinimmayam Mahāthubham, kalikāle vi suyittham Mahurānayariu(e) vandāmi."37 // One pedestal of an image has been obtained from the site, bearing an inscription that the same was established at "Vodve thūpe deva nirmita' in Kuşāna year 79. The other three images of mediaeval period also have inscriptions which say that they were established at 'Deva nirmiteti' (J.143LM, J.144LM., J.145LM.). Thus up to medieval times the shrine was called 'Devanirmita'. Many Ayāgapattas comprise carvings of stūpas along with Jinas, ascetics and devotees. Thus it seems that it was the same stūpa adored by Jainas since years. Jinaprabhasūri's account on the Stūpa at Mathurā: Jaina monks are very good wanderers as they have to move from place to place except the four months of rainy season to preach the tenets of Jainism. While travelling they write the account of their pilgrimage tour describing the condition of the temple, site, year of establishment, renovation year, name of the reigning king, etc. Such documentation provides important evidence for the study of history, geography and social customs. Jinaprabhasūri visited sacred tīrthas and narrated their condition in Vividha-tīrtha-kalpa (V.T.kalpa). In the history of Jainism there were two Ācāryas named Jinaprabhasūri living between 13th and 14th century. The first Jinaprabhasūri of Āgama Gaccha lived from the end of 13th century to the beginning of 14th century of Vikrama era. He composed many informative texts in Apabhramsa language which are preserved at Pātana's Granthabhandāra while the second Jinaprabhasūri, the disciple of Jinasiṁhasūri belonging to Kharatara gaccha and the author of V.T. kalpa lived in the second half of the 14th century of the Vikrama era. He wrote ‘Kātantra Vyākaraṇa' in the year 1352 of the Vikrama era at the age of 25. Ācārya Somdharmagaội mentioned Sūriji's magical power in prabandha - 'Upadeśa Saptati' by which he impressed the Sultan. He renovated the Mathurā shrine as per the available information from
Nābhinandanoddhāra-prabandha'. At his time Delhi was governed by Sultan Hammira Mohammad Tagalakha. The work on this kalpa began with the journey to the sacred Tīrtha Satruñjaya, on Friday in
37 1) Descriptive Catalogue of MSS in Jaina Bhandaras, Pātan, G.O.S. 73, (Baroda,
1937), 56. II) Jain S., Aspects of Jainology, Vo. 2, 1998, pp. 709.