Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 4

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 22

GHANTIYAJALA AND MOUNT MERU IN JAINAGAMA*.
DR. GASTAV ROTH
The Jaina Agamas, the Angas as well as the Uvangas contain a wealth of cultural data of high antiquity which are not available even in Buddhist, and Brahminical sources.
H. Jacobi discovered since long the so-called Vedha-metre, the predecessor of the Arya-metre, in the Varnaka-portions (vannao) of the Jaina Canon with reference to descriptions of towns, palaces, Caityas (ceiya) and even palanquins (siyā=śibikā). Of course question of the metre are of great importance for determining older and younger layers of the Jaina Canon. We know now that the Arya-metre is characteristic of the younger layers of the Jaina canon, while Tristubh, Anustubh, and Aupachandasika are used in the older layers.
In a recent paper entitled "Legends of craftsmen in Jaina Literature including notes on the bell frieze and Mount Mandara in the Jaina Canon and in Ancient Indian Art." (under publication with Indologica Taurensia, Torino), I examined one of these Varņakas, which contains the oldest literary reference to the bell in India. In the ancient Vedha-metre of this Varnaka the decor of a frieze of bells called ghaṇṭiya-jāla "bells hanging on network", and also ghaṇṭavali "row of bells" are mentioned decorating a siya = šivikā1. Both these terms are most significant, as they can be identified in contemporary pieces of Ancient Indian Art. A row of bells hanging on network (ghaṇṭiyā-jāla) are depicted as a frieze on the copings of stone railings which surrounded the famous Buddhist Stupa at Bharhut (ca. 2nd cent. B. C.). You can see the originals in the Indian Museum at Calcutta. This motif is particularly characteristic of Bharhut! Simple rows of bells (ghaṇṭāvali) can be seen of the copings of stone railings belonging to Jaina Stüpas (ca. 1rst cent. A. D.).2
*
Exerpt from talk delivered on April, 6, 1982 on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti celebrations in the institute.
1. For reference see Nayadhammakahão (Suttagame Edition Vol.
1, p. 964, line 11-18).
Vincent A. Smith, The Jain Stupa And other Antiquities from Mathura. Allahabad, 1901,
2.