________________
AŚOKAKUMIRA BHATTACHARYA
The Saiya coins of'Kadphises II and the Sasva seal from Sirkap' are some of the carliest representations of this association of the Trifūla with the Saiya cult' The Trisula in Jamna art stands for one of the early symbols of a Lord of the Quarters. In texts, relating to religsous and secular architecture, it is prescribed that on the land selected for the construction of a palace, a Kurmašilâ 18 to be placed, as a matter more of religious necessity than anything else.? This prescriptios is followed in also the later texts of the Jains. The Vatthusära-payaranam following this tradition lays down the same formulae with regard to the establishment of Kūrmasilā. On the Cight sides of this are to be placed the eight symbols for the Dikpālas in the eight or more properly nine khurašilā, one being placed just beneath the Kärmasila. The symbol there used for the eighth Lord of the Quarters is the Trisüla placed on the Sanbhāgini siab of stone. Here Triáūla gym boliges the Tantric character of Išāna, the erghth Lord of the Quarters.10 It really signifies and makes clear one fact, namely, that the idea of a Triad that is all sacred to Buddhism and Jainism in the formation of the Triratna and which dates as early as most probably the Kubāna period, was one that formed one of the fundamental principles in aniconic religious attitude of the Jain. Attention may in this connection be drawn to a find from the Kankali Tilla'at Matborá " On the front of the pedestal of this image of: a una is the figure of a wheel placed on a trident carved in relief, being
5 Arch. Survey of India, Ann Report for 1914-15, p 51, pl. XXIV.
6. The association of Traśūja with the Sarva cult, is however, Dot univerSal; the use of Trisula with the loating banger is also met with 10 connection With royal algata which are purely secular 10 gigailicaace-A. K. Coomarawamy, History of Indian & Indonesian Art p 25 fm.
7 Vide, Keīrārnava, attributed to Viswakarmi.
8. Paddham gaddavivaram Jalam tam aha Kakkaram tam Kunaba, KurumaDifesam attham Khurassilā tayanu Butta vihi III 2
Also cf The description of a Kurmašilā in the Prabădamondana of Sūtre Dhira-Mandana-Ardhāngulo bhavat kūrma eka haste Surala ya
Ardhãngulat tato Vrıdhib kāryā tithi kura vadhih" Ekatrımsat Karāatamca tadardhã vidhifisyave'
Tatordhapı, satärodhantam kucyādarigulamtânatah
Caturtthâm sādhili jyesthi banistha binayogatah. - quoted in Vatbusarapayaranam (Ed. by B. Jaun ) P 103. 9 Ksitāraapa of Viswakarmā 10. Nirvāşakalsha (Ed. by M B Jhaveri ) p 30.
11. J. Ph. Vogel : Catalogue of the Archaeological Museum st Mathura p. 67 Image No B.S
