Studies in Jaina Art

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

Page 94

SYMBOL WORSHIP IN JAINISM
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to the new reading of Dr. Agrawal it was set up by Vasu, the daughter of a courtesan Loņaśobhikā, who also erected a shrine of the Arhats, a hall of homage (āyāgasabhā.), a cistern, (and) a stone-slab ( Siläpalo) at the sanctuary of the Nirgrantha Arhats.” The inscription now throws new light in as much as the slab is called a "Sila pato". Śilāpața is also nientioned in the stock-description of a caitya obtained in the Aupapātika-sūtra. One would naturally be tempted to identify the Silk-pata' of the Jaina texts with the Ayāga-paţa of some of the inscriptions. All such pațas are dedicated with a common expression “ Arbata-pujaye” (Dr. Agrawala's translation of " arhatapūjaye" as "in honour of the Arhats” is better than of the older ones) and the tablet under discussion, set up by Vasu, though called a "Šila-pața ” is obviously also an āyāga pața. The pața is assignable to the Kuşāņa period both from the evidence of the script and from the art of the carvings.?
Tablet VIII. Set up by an unknown donor. (Fig. II) The tablets is noteworthy for the following reason : Tablet I is meant for the worship of the Dharma-cakra; Tablet II for that of the tri-ratna (jñāna-darśana-căritra, the fundamentals of the Jaina religious practice, or the teaching of the Jina shown in the centre), Tablets VII and IV are for the worship of the Stupa. This Tablet (J. 250 Lucknow Museum, size 3' X 2.8") is possibly for the worship of the eight auspicious symbols, suggested by a big ornamental svastika, enclosed in a big circle, and with a small svastika, a Silvatsa, a pair of fish, and a bhadrasana (or Indrayasti?) shown in its four Arms. In the centre of the big svastika, is another circle, a miniature of the main circle of Tablet II, showing the Jina and the tri-ratnas. The circle round the big svastika shows male and female worshippers of the figures of a Jina, a Caltya-tree enclosed in a square railing, A stopa and another object (badly damaged) represented on four sides in the rim of the elrele, The pedestal of
The ingcription, as read by Dr. Agrawala, JU PHS., XXIII. pp. 69-70, I Namo Arahato Vardhamanasa Årdye gapika 3 ye Lanafobhikaye dhitu samanasāyikaye 3 Nādāye gagikāye Vasu ( ye ) Arahāle devik(u)la 4 āyāga-sabha prapa SH ( A ) pato patisthāpite Nigatha § Mām Arahatäyatane sa(ha)m(ā) tare bhaginiye dkitars putreya 6 sarvona ea parijanena Arahata pajaye
Smith and Codrington, History of Fine Art, p. 40. It is more likely that this pața dates from a period between 1 and 78 A,D,
Smith, Jaina Slapa, pl. IX, p. 16. The inscription on this tablet is highly defaced. Also see Ep. Ind. II. pl. I b, pp. 311-313.
+ Of all the Ayāgapațas this is the most important one as it represents in one plaque all the fundamentals of Jaina worship of this age, Its latest date would be e, I A.D.