Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 74

The Tradition of Stūpa in Jainism
king Huviska, in year 39. Besides this, he found some more fragments of images. It is observed, that till 1880 only some sculptures were found but afterwards tremendous artefacts were received from the site including a pedestal with the words "..... Deva Nirmita Vodva Thubhe” (fig. 24). The account of Utbi and Firista clearly shows that Mathurā /Mahuraun was completely ruined by Gazani's army. Afterwards the Jaina sangha had either renovated the shrines or constructed a new, next to the ancient stūpa, as per the inscriptions on images (1023 A.D. and 1078 A.D.), continuing the same name, 'Deva nirmita' for the shrines. The city was again looted in fifteen century by Sikandara Lodi and then by Ahmad Shah Abdāli in 1757 A.D. Aurangzeb also plundered the city in course of time. During such a period of constant religious turmoil, the priests were not accepting lavish donations. The system of constructing temples looking like mosques and ordinary houses was also introduced by local priests. In the reign of Akbar, Sāhu Todarmal built five hundred and fourteen new stūpas at Mathurā with Akbar's permission. The celebration of the same was held in 1573 A.D.95, but the author of the book 'Jambusvāmi Caritra' noted that Sāhu Todarmala renovated 515 stūpas which were in ruined condition. Because of the similarity in Jaina & Hindu shrines and their secular religious endurance, very often Jaina shrines were referred to as Hindu shrines. The book 'Āine Akbari' by Abul Fazal describes some Hindu temples at Mathurā. Another account of the city is mentioned by a Christian missionary, Father Montserrat when he visited Agra and its neighbouring area between February 1580 and April 1582 A.D. He was invited by Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri. He travelled from Goa to Sikri. While passing through Mathurā, he saw the city in a ruined condition. He comments - "It used to be a great and well-populated city with splendid buildings and a great circuit wall. The ruins plainly indicate, how imposing the buildings were. For out of forgotten ruins some ancient statues of skilful
95 I) Sharma V. K. Reconstructing Ind. Hist. pp. 237, II) J. P Jain - "Pramukh Aitihasik Jaina Purusa Aura Mahilayen”, 1975.,in Podar Abhi.
Grantha., pp 285