Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 78

Mathurā School of Jaina Art
later on was absorbed in Mathurā products. It adopted salient features of Gandhāra art style in chiselling images which were fleshy, muscular (fig. 51,53), draped in dress much alien to Indian soil, beautiful hair-do, profuse jewellery, well-built physique, halo behind the head (fig. 52), etc. The Gandhāra School was most fruitful and accurate in displaying the narrative sculptures forming a unique source of Buddhist religious documentation. The same narrative pattern was used by Mathurā artists to depict important life incidences of Tīrthankaras in the stūpa and shrines at Mathurā. The artists were using common features in carving any image either Brahmanical or Buddhist or Jaina. There is no Jaina image found in Taxila, but only references in Jaina traditions about the establishment of dharmacakra7 in Cakra-tīrtha by Bahubali, the son of Rsabhadeva. Here Cakra-tīrtha might be a tīrtha with a cakra in a shrine. There were two vital centres for art activities in India under Kuşāņa Empire namely Gandhāra and Mathurā. Though Mathurā art was little indigenous it borrowed some ideas from north-west and applied them within own social norms and culture. Both were patronised by the chief rulers of Kuşāņa dynasties viz. Kaniska, Huviska and Vāsudeva, hence they succeeded in exchanging their ideas. The adopted Gandhāran style is noticed on many sculptures of Mathurā school as mentioned earlier. Kșatrapas ruled at Mathurā for a short period before Kuşāņa kings took over the entire territory. They are remembered for three inscribed sculptures which include the period and the names of consecrators1. Āmohini's Āyāgapața (Accn. no. J 1 LM., fig. 33). 2. A Lion Capital with Kharosthi inscription now in British Museum,
London. 3. A torso of Jina with the inscription at back. (fig. 39, 40). The stylistic features of Mathurā school of art: The excavated materials in Gandhāra region, reveal that the same was a main Buddhist centre since Aśoka's reign. The artists of this school were deeply influenced by Greek art and stressed more on outward features while Mathurā artists developed specific ‘Mathurā School with their perception and knowledge of religious philosophy, culture and society. They had their own skill developed before adopting Gandhāran art style
3.4
6 7
Joshi N. P. and Sharma R. C., Gandhara Sculptures in the state museum, Lucknow, pp. 1. Shah U. P. Studies in Jaina Art, 1955, pp 10 and fn. 1.