Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 56

The Tradition of Stūpa in Jainism
the month of Mahā in 1385 of the Vikrama era. The Sultan of Delhi became happy with the commencement of journey on an auspicious day i.e. Friday. Seeing his happiness Sūriji also named this kalpa as "Rājaprasāda”. He completed the same in the year 1389 Bhādrapada Krsna-paksa Daśami at Delhi. It provides the account of Satruñjaya, Giranāra, Khambāta, Ahicchatra, Ābu, Mathurā, Bharuca, Vaibhārgiri, Kausambī, Kalikunda, Kannānura, Nāsika, Pratisthānapur, etc. 38 Jaina Tīrthas visited by him with other disciples. It is noted in Rājendra Kosa (part-3 on pages 212-215) published in early 20th century at Ratlam, authored by Ācārya Rājendrasūri. It is also published by Simghi Jain Series as No. 10 in 1934. Jinaprabhasūri begins the 9th chapter 'Mathurāpurī Kalpa' in Vividhatīrtha -kalpa with the adoration of the seventh Jina Supārsvanātha and 23rd Pārsvanātha for performing mangala to all jīvas38. Here he prayed to the above two Jinas, so it seems that, there might be more than one shrine where above Jinas were Mulanāyakas. The author narrates the legend behind the establishment of the stūpa, very much similar to Vyavahāra-cūrņi but with a little difference. Accordingly, in the period of the seventh Jina Supārsva, two Jaina monks Dhammaruci and Dhammaghoșa, visited the city of Mathurā, and stayed in the park named Bhua-Rāmaņa39. At that time the city of Mathurā was twelve yojana long and nine yojana wide. The river Yamuna flowed right next to the city. Jinaprabhasūri describes that it appeared as if the Yamuna is performing abhiseka to the city. He further comments about the beauty of the cityIt was looking very elegant with magnificent shrines, wells, ponds and forts. Groups of Brāhmaṇas were exercising four sorts of vidyās by various means. The Bhūta-ramaņa park was looking very pleasant with plenty of trees, flowers, fruits and creepers. The presiding deity, Kuberā converted herself to Jaina faith seeing the severe austerities of ascetics. She wanted to bestow a boon, even wanted
38 HTH - dalaga Hf454 Four vertuoti भवियजणमंगलकरं महराकप्पं पवक्खामि ।।१।।
- V. T. Kalp., pp. 17 39 तित्थे सुपासनाहस्स वट्टमाणंमि दुन्नि मुणिसीहा । धम्मरुइ - धम्मघोसा नामेणं आसि
निस्संगा ।। २ ।। तत्थ ते मुणिवरा...भूअरमणाभिहाणे उववणे उग्गहं अणुण्ण- विअ ठिआ वासारत्तं चउमासं कओववासा ।
- ibid.