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
Three Jewels: In Jainism, this symbol of philosophy is accepted, signifying - the right knowledge, right faith together with right conduct that lead to salvation 14. This is an essential step to destroy karmas and to reach Moksa. The earliest form of nandipāda is available on Khāravela's inscription (Udaygiri - Khandagiri) cave at the end of second line showing its previous condition. It also appears on the door lintels of Rani-guphā, Ananta-guphā, and Ganesa-guphā situated at the same hill. The gateway of stūpa at Mathurā and the north and south torana at Sānci's stūpa are decorated with this motif. Some copper coins available from Taxila are representing nandipāda along with śrīvatsa. Two coins found from Sankisā near Mathurā assigned to 1st century A.D. have representation of a goddess, a crescent and a nandipāda.15 The dhàrmacakra from Causa (fig. 63) has 16 spokes with a hub in a centre. Its handle is carved beautifully flanked by a pair of female coming out from the mouth of makaras to support the wheel on nandipāda. In the view of Stella Kramrisch, these alligators have similarity with those of Bhārhut Railings. 16
This leads to suggest that this dharmacakra may have been in a shrine in 2nd century B.C. i.e. Sunga period. 17 Here makaras have turned their tails upwards to make three jewels with cakra at their intersection. The empty space within is carved with lotus. This three jewels symbol, along with other 23 in outer rim, forms a total 24 three jewels, symbolising the concept of 24 Jinas in Jainism, at least from Sunga period.
The symbol nandipāda is also seen at the centre of pedestal instead of dharma-cakra on some of the Jinas of Kusāna period (J.19 LM, J.20 LM). Wheel (Cakra): The worshiping of wheel is accepted by all religious sects in India as dharma cakra. Cakra has many implication when affixed with
14 /Samyak Jñāna, Darśana āņi Căritrāņi Moksa mārgaḥ/ 1st Gatha in Tatvartha-sutra. 15 Srivastav A. L., Bhārtiya kalā Pratika, (Ilahabad, Umesh Publishers, 1919), pp. 49. 16 See fn. no. 10 (1) of this book. 17 I) Stell a Kramrisch, Patana Museum Catalogue of Antiquities, (Patna, 1965), pp. 107. II) H. K. Prasad, "Jaina Bronzes in the Patana Museum", Golden Jubilee vol. (Mumbai,
Shri Mahavira Jain Vidyalaya, 1968), pp. 277.