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
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Each comprises śrivatsa, three have haloes, Pārśva has a chatra, found at the cross road Maholi where it was worshipped as Vīrabhadra. Original place might be kańkālīTīlā.
Carving is defaced, Pārśva and Rṣabha are noticeable.
Parsva and Rṣabha
One sarvatobhadra image in padmāsana of Gupta period has Kubera and Ambika on pedestal (fig.96). The bas-relief of caumukha image includes different patterns like Kuśa grass, five tiers, devotees at corners or flanking the wheel etc. One inscribed Svetambara image is of medieval period (fig. 76-A,B,C,D).
Many Jaina shrines have caturmukha concept having four doors in four directions either at ground level or at top with a space for pradakṣinā. Rāṇakpur in Rajastan is best example of a caumukha shrine, where sarvatobhadra Rṣabhadeva is mūlanāyaka.
We have early references of caitya pillar at Paharpura temple in Bengal. Though it is disclosed as a Hindu relief, it was a Jaina shrine as per the obtained copper plate dated 478 A.D. referring to a donation by Brāhmaṇa couple following the Jaina 'Pañca-stūpanikaya' faith.
Deogarh and Gwalior also have beautiful shrines of early Gupta period, while at Delavādā-Ābu, caturmukha temple of Kharatara vasahi is of medieval period.
3.11 Concept of 24 Tīrthankaras:
Concept of 24 Tīrthnkaras covering a span of billions of years, mentioned in Jain scriptures, is not accepted by historians and archaeologists in the absence of definite clue, proof and inscription. However out of twenty four Tīrthankaras of present era, last three - Ariṣṭanemi, Pārśvanatha, Mahāvīira and first Rṣabhadeva, are recognised by them. Moreover one inscribed pedestal of an image from kankālī-Tīlā