Studies in Jaina Art

Author(s): Umakant P Shah
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 19

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STUDIES IN JAINA ART
temple. A mutilated head of the Mauryan period, discovered by Banerji.Shastri from the same site probably belonged to another Jaina sculpture. 1
Of the Mauryan age, no other Jaina relic is known except a group of caves in Barabara and Nagarjuni hills, Bihār, dedicated by Aśoka and Dasaratha for the use of Ajivika sect whose leader, Mankhaliputta Gosala, was once a disciple and later a great rival of Mahāvīra. The Mauryan ruler Samprati is hailed by traditions as a great patron of the Jainas and builder of numerous (Jaina) temples. No archæological evidence is however available today.
Of the Sunga period, the only noteworthy Jaina relics are two groups of caves on the Udayagiri and the Khandagiri hills in Orissa. The Häthigumphā, on the former, is a natural cavern with a long inscription of King Kharavela of the Cheţa or Cheti (Chedi ) dynasty. Opinions are divided regarding the date of the record and the earlier reading showing that the 13th year of Kharavela's reign coincided with the 164th year of the Mauryan era has been ultimately discarded. But the inscription is generally assigned to c. 150 B. C. on grounds of palæography. Kharavela followed Jainism since his record opens with adoration to the Arhats (Tirthankaras) and the Siddhas (liberated souls). The record shows that he invaded Magadha and brought back the statue (or the seat) of the Kalinga Jina carried away by the Nanda King. Along with his queen, Khåravela provided shelters for Jaina monks at the Relic Depository of the Arhats on the Kumari ( Udayagiri) hill, erected many pillars and repaired old temples,"
Both the groups of caves were excavated and for many years tenanted by the Jainas as shown by the inscriptions and reliefs in the Navamuni, Bara
1 Banerji-Shastri, Mauryan Sculptures from Lohānipur-Patna, Journal of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society, XXVI. 2. 120 ff.
A fragmentary inscription found by Mahamahopadhyaya G. H. Oza, from Bārli (Ajmer District) refers to majjhamikā (Mādhyamikā), modern Nagari near Chitor, and the year 84 of Mahavira's nirvana. See Indian Antiquary, LVIII.229. But the reading Virat or Viraya is disputable, see, Sarkar, D. C., Barli Fragmentary Stone Inscription, JBORS. Vol. 37, March 1951.
3 Kuraishi, List of Ancient Monuments protected under Act VII of 1904 in the Bihar and Orissa Provinces (1938). 33.
Brhat-Kalpa-Bhasya, Vol. III, gāthās 3285-89, pp. 917-21.
Rajendralal Mitra, Antiquities of Orissa, 2 volumes. Kuraishi, op. cit... pp. 244-283.
B. M. Barua, Old Brahmi Inscriptions in the Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves (1929). Reference to all earlier interpretations and readings will be found in this work. Barua revised his readings in Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol. XIV (1938), PP. 459-485. The new reading makes no mention of Kalinga Jina (statue).
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