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A Note on the Worship of Images in Jainism
(C. 200 BC - 200 AD)*
by Priyatosh Baneerjee
It is difficult to say when first the Jainas took to the practice of worshipping images.' Stevenson states that an image of Mahāvīra? was installed in Upakeśapattana during the leadership of the Jaina leader Prabhava (4th century B.C.). That image-worship was in prevalence among the Jainas about the same time is supported by archaeological evidence. The Hāthīgumphā inscription of Jaina king Khāravela records that he took back from Pāțliputra the Jina idol which was carried off by one of the Nandarājas from Kalinga.' This shows that the Nandas who ruled in 4th century B.C. were followers of Jainismo, Kalinga was an ancient centre of Jaina faith, and Tirthankara images were made for worship as early as the days of the Nandas. It may be noted here that among the Patna Museum exhibits there are two nude mutilated statues found in Lohanipur, Patna Town. One of them possesses polish characteristics of Maurya age and can be attributed to 3rd century B.C. and the other can be attributed on stylistics grounds to 2nd century B.C. It is quite possible that they represent Tīrthankara images of 3rd century B.C. and 2nd century B.C. respectively. The author of Arthaśāstra seems to refer to the Jaina gods in Jayanta, Vaijayanta and Sarvārthasiddhi.': Most of the important caves, viz., Ananta, Rāņi and Ganesa Gumphās in Orissa were exacavated in 2nd century B.C. The Ananta Gumphā contains symbols like Triśūla and Svastika on its back wall. Moreover, the courtyard of the cave possesses images of many Jaina deities and saints.' The Rāṇīgumphā is elaborately
This article was first published in the 'The Journal of the Bihar Research Society', Patna in 1950.
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