Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

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The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
1890-91 as per report forwarded by Dr. Fuhrer. Actually, the site was explored many times between 1882 and 1892 A.D. The available inscribed images and other sculptures provide the important documents of Jaina history, revealing the kula, gana, and śākha of Acāryas with the condition of Jaina Sangha.
The city continued to prosper after Taxila's decline during Kuṣāṇa period. In the year 1018, invader looted and destroyed the golden stupa, though it was repaired within the next five years. The obtained artefacts and images show the prosperity and growth of Jainism, from 200 B.C. to 1200 A.D. Here, Mathura School of art was developed by Gandhāran artists with local touch. The images of Kuṣāņa period, Gupta period, as well as pre and post medieval period, were obtained from the site. In exploration, the plinth of the stupa, two Jaina shrines and many buildings were recognised. Later on, the reference of this Deva Nirmita stūpa in Yasastilaka campū64, Avaśyaka cūrṇi65 came to light. Dr. Bulhar66 found out the mention of this stūpa in Vividha-tīrtha-kalp as advised by B. Indraji, while V.S. Agrawal found the detail of Śalabhañjikā in Rayapaseniyam sutra.
2.8 The Dispute between Jainas and Buddhists over Stupa and its Reconciliation:
In the Tika of Vyavarsutra (Vyavahāra-curņi), Malaygiri mentions that the stupa was wonderful, but afterwards controversy arose between Jainas and Buddhists as to whom did the stupa belong, and this continued for six months. Jaina Sangha requested the same sadhu to seek the goddess' help to end the crisis. The Devi appeared while he was meditating and suggested to take king's help for solution. The king declared that if in the morning, a white flag is seen on the stupa, then it is a Jaina stūpa and if a red flag is seen, then the judgement would be in favour of the Buddhists. At night, a white flag appeared on the stupa, but out of jealousy, some Buddhist laid a red flag, which was surprisingly changed again to white by the deity. In the morning the king saw the white flag on the stupa and declared it to be of Jainas.
64 Handiqui, K.K. 1949, op. cit.
65 Avasyaka cūrņi, I, 472.
66 Bhagavanlal suggested referring the same in V. T. Kalp.