Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 62

The Tradition of Stūpa in Jainism
VII) A wheel on the centre of the pedestal of the Sarvatobhadra image58,
flanked by devotees, wearing dresses like royal personage. VIII) There is one toraņa beam of a procession, where Centaurs and
Harpies are proceeding to adore the stūpa (fig. 19, 20), available from the site of the stūpa59, proving its establishment before 2nd century B.C. Above sculptures were installed in around stūpa premises as per their inscriptions details like Arhatāyana (A shrine of Arhatas), Prāsādas (Shrines), Ranga-mandapa (An adjacent hall to the main Garbhagsha), Deva nirmita Vodva stūpa, Āyāgasabhā and Caitya Pillar. The names of ascetics are seem to be familiar like Mahāraksita and Vriddhahasti who might be Arya Raksitasūri and Vriddhavādi very
often referred in Jaina scriptures. The available bricks used in the construction of the stūpa were of many sizes viz. 15 square inch to six inch thick, some were long but narrow, while the measure of smallest was seven inch broad with a two inch thickness 60. The channel for water supply was like the ancient water supply mechanism61. The obtained sculptures show art and architecture of Hellenistic and Gandhāra School. Above scriptural and archaeological data leads to believing that the stūpa which was described in inscription J.20 LM., is the same constructed by the deity Kuberā. Jina Pārsvanātha too visited the stūpa and advised to cover it with bricks and sand. His period was 800 B.C. If we consider that the stūpa already existed during his period, means the same was constructed at least 200 years earlier. Thus, the stūpa was set up by deity about 3000 years ago. Most of the historians including Dr. R. C. Sharma and Dr. U. P. Shah agreed to this date 62 In 1888, the site Kārkālī Tīlā, also known as Jainī tīlā, was excavated by ASI Officers. About 737 sculptures63 were discovered in the year
58 B. 67 MM, fig. 72. 59 J. 535 LM. 60 I) Sharma V. K., 2002, op, cit., pp. 139.
II) Smith V, op. cit. 1900, pl.III. 61 Sharma R. C., Mathura Jain Tirtha Kankali, 1971, pp. 9. 62 R.P. Chanda, A.S.R. 1925-26, pp. 124 &180 63 Smith V, 1900, op. cit. pp. 3.