Jainism in Mathura in the Early Centuries of the Christian

Author(s): Baijnath Puri
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_

Page 3

158: SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME
the Kusana era. The Kottika gana, according to the Kalpasútra, was founded by Susthita and Supratibuddha, surnamed Kauțika and Kākandaka. It was divided into Ucenāgari, Vidyadhari, Vajrī and Madhyamika śākha's and Brahmaliptaka, Vatsaliya, Vaniya and Praśnavahanaka kulas. This school continued to exist in the Gupta period as it is mentioned in an inscription dated in the year 11314 of the Gupta era. It refers to the setting up of an image by Syāmādhya under instructions from Datilācārya of the Kottiya gana and Vidyadhari śākhā.
The head of the Carana or Varana gana of the Kalpasūtra was Aryadatta in the year 2915 and a little more than twenty years later its great preacher was Dinärya. This school was divided into four śākhās and seven kulas. The gana was founded by Sri Gupta of the Hari gotra, according to the Kalpasütra. A good many śäkhâs and Iculas of this gana or school are noticed in the Kuşāņa records as, for example, Pusyamitrika, Aryacetaya, Kāmajāšika, Petivämika and Arahatțiya. Some kulas are, however, left out.
The Arya-Uddehikiya gana with its Nagabhūtikiya kula identified with Nagabhaya kula of the Uddeha gana had Buddhaśri as its head in the year 716 and Devadatta in the year 9017 of the Kuşäna era. This gana was founded by Arya Rohana of the Kasyapa gotra and was divided into six kulas and four sakhas out of which only two kulas are mentioned in records.
The Mehika kula of the Vasavadiya gana was founded by Kamarȧhi of the Kundala gotra. It is mentioned in a record of the year 15.18
These ganas or schools with the different kulas, sakhds and sambhogas created an atmosphere of good will and there is hardly any instance of bitterness in their relations with each other or with Buddhism and Brahmanism, the two other flourishing religions at Mathura. Out of the records of dedications of statues of Jaina
13 SBE, VIII, p. 231.
14 EI, II, p. 210.
15 EI, II, p. 206, No. 26; Ibid., No. 36. kulas and sakhås-see Kalpasūtra, Jaina ganas see also Bühler: The Indian Sect of the Jainas.
16 EI, I, p. 391, No. 19.
17 IA, XXXIII, p. 105, No. 23.
18 EI, I, p. 282, No. 2.
For the division of this gana into VIII, p. 320. For a study of the