Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 79

The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
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which could be seen on beautiful artistic Āyāgapatas and the Parkham statue of yakṣa and other gigantic images of early Kuşāņa period. Agrawala V. S. remarked about the image of the yakşa Manibhadra found at Parkham village that it was regarded as the presiding deity of carvan merchants. The artists didn't blindly adopt the method of orient but made progress with Indian philosophical thought. The accepted few elements from Gandhāra schools are• The carving of heavy and short body of Tīrthankara (fig. 53, 54) • Wavy curls (fig. 56) • Sharp eyes with heavy eyelids (fig. 57). • Smiling face (fig. 54) • The peculiar style in depicting abdoman (fig. 55). The salient features of Mathurā School (in detail): 1. The sculptors adopted the characteristics of great personalities
(Mahapurusa lakṣaṇa) in carving of Jinas like hands reaching up to knees, śrīvatsa on chest, auspicious marks on finger tips, etc. (fig. 72) including manifestation of serenity (santa bhava) with
smile on face (fig. 60). 2. Jaina tablets of homage were chiselled with Jina at centre medallion
surrounded by symbolic ornaments. Even representation of Jaina religious motifs like three jewels, wheel, svastika, nandyāvarta, etc.
were also popular. 3. As seen, Mathurā artefacts are in round (fig. 2, 3 and 4), where
many of the reliefs have shown narrative stories on obverse with its consequences on reverse as shown on the frieze representing legend of transfer of embryo of Mahāvīra by deity Naigameša. The women on cross bars standing on some strange person or animal seem to be yaksis (fig. 58A, 58B, 112). Here the artists depicted wonderful carving on the reverse showing their mastery in carving hair styles, ornaments, garments as well as the human and animal bodies. Thus a powerful impression of Gandhāra art is noticed on Mathurā school, chiefly in adornment of animals with human faces, creepers, flowers, etc.
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Shah U. P. and Ernest Bender, "Mathurā and Jainism”, in "Mathurā - The cultural Heritage" ed. Doris M.S. op. cit. (1989): fn. 213.