Jaina Stupa At Mathura Art And Icons

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

Page 85

The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
to gain Tīrthankara-nāma-karma as suggested by Rastogi S.20. Another sculpture is from the same site showing the worship of cakra by three men. Its art style gives indigenous look, suggesting it to be before Christian era21
The worship of wheel is popular among common people - the marriage ceremony commences with cakra pujā at potter's place. Moreover the journey to any place starts with the wheel puja of vehicles which also strengthen the olden system of cakra worship.
Sthāpanācārya: Besides the usual mangalas another article, sthāpanācārya, the symbolic representation of Arhat and preceptor is also considered pious in Jainism. The word sthāpana stands for establishment while Acārya for preceptor forms the word sthāpanācārya. A layman uses simple sthāpanācārya prepared from two broad wooden bands connecting from the centre while monks use this article made from the four wooden sticks tied at the centre and covering the top with ornamental cloth. A booklet of Navakāra mantra - a salutation to Jinas and preceptors is usually kept on the same (fig. 95). In this figure a Jaina ascetic is holding a manuscript, sitting in the front of sthāpanācāry. Usually ascetic delivers the sermons in this mudra. An image of a monk holding a Manuscript in above mudra is obtained from Kankalī Tīlā (early Gupta period) may be representing a Jaina preceptor (fig. 90A). His sitting posture could be compare with the image of Jinakushalsuri of late medieval period (fig. 90B)
3.7 Aștmangalas :
In Rāyapaseņiya-sūtra, Jambūudvīpa-prajñapti, sabda-kalpadruma and Trişaști-salākā-puruşa-caritra22 a few selected aștmangalas (eight auspicious articles) are described. It also serves as decorative top of architrave of the stūpa, shrines and houses.
20 Rastogi, Lucknow Samgrahalaya ki Pratimaen.... pp. 26. 21 Ibid, pl. no. 1, (accn. no. 66.46 LM.) 22 तेसि णं तोरणाणं उप्पिं अट्र मंगलगा पण्णत्ता, तं जहा -
सोत्थिय, सिरिवच्छ, नन्दियावत्त, वध्दमाणग, भदासणा, कलस, मच्छ, दप्पण जाव पडिरुवा। मृगराजो वृषो नागः कलशो व्यंजनन्तथा। वैजयन्ती तथा भेरी दीप इत्यष्ट मंगलम्।।
-Śabdakalpadruma, part-1, pp. 148.