Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 58

The Tradition of Stūpa in Jainism
Besides the myth, the author has given a lot of information related to Mathurā, stating the word 'Itthe' (here) as follows1) The city is the birth place of the future Tīrthankara Kanha Vāsudeva43. 2) Here, Mahāvīrasvāmī's previous birth as Visabhuti, with unlimited
strength is connected44. The same account has appeared in Uttar
purāņa of Guņabhadra. 3) Here, there are four Jaina shrines viz. Ācārya Mangu, Yakșa Bhūta,
Hundiya Yakşa, and the stūpas. 4) The five sthalas/places around Mathurā are Akkasthala, Vīrasthala,
Paumasthala, Kusasthala and Mahāsthala46. 5) The twelve forests (vanas) are Lohajunghavana, Madhuvana, Bilvavana,
Tālavana, Kumudavana, Vrindāvana, Bhandirāvana, Khadīravana,
Kāmikavana, Kolavana, Bakulāvana and Mahāvana47. 6) The five laukika-tīrthas (sacred places) mentioned in the kalpa are Viśrānti,
Asikunda, Vaikuntha, Kāliñjara and Cakratirtha48. A reference of Cakratīrtha is available in Ogha-niryukti by Acārya Bhadrabāhu svamī as
//Cakke thübhe stūpo Mathurāyam//' Most of the names of sthalas, tīrthas and vanas are still recognizable like Vrndāvana, Madhuvana, Mahāvana, Vaikuntha-tīrtha, etc. They
are available in Hindu Purāṇas and Āgamas too. 7) Jinaprabhasūri refers Ācārya Bappabhattasūri's visit to Mathurā,
where he had established Mahāviīa's image in Vikrama era 826 i.e. 769 A.D. At that time, Ācārya had advised King Ama to repair the stūpa49. The king restored the same, and prepared a kūpa or kunda near the stūpa. A kūpa unearthed close to the site of the stūpa in excavation in 1987 A.D.50 might be the same.
43 इत्थ नयरीए कण्हवासुदेवस्स भावितित्थंकरस्स जम्मो।
- V. T. Kalp. pp. 18 44 grey faraghildur fariTET 379ff4310U FR gel - ibid, pp. 19 45 3toutiner SRT 7043TKY affermarkt J Rua Frei ori fags 1 - ibid., pp. 18 46 इत्थ पंच थलाई । तं जहा-अक्कथलं वीरथलं पउमत्थलं कुसत्थलं महाथलं ।
- ibid. 47 576T-cevi qui nequi...... HENU 1
-ibid. 48 तं जहा-विस्संतिअतित्थं असिकुंडतित्थं वेकुंततित्थं कालिंजरतित्थं चक्कतित्थं । - ibid., pp. 19 49 ....तेण आमरायसेविअ कमकमलेण सिरिबप्पहट्टिसूरिणा अट्ठयसयछव्वीसे (८२६) विक्कमसंवच्छरे
सिरिवीरबिंबं महुराए ठाविअं। तओ बप्पहट्टिवयणाओ आमराएण उवरि सिलाकलावचिअं कारिअं।
-V. T. Kalp. pp.19. 50 U. P. Shah & Earnest B., “Mathurā & Jainism”, 1989, op. cit., pp. 209-10.