The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons

Description

Jainas, the apostles of culture and knowledge have played a vital role in the civilisation of India. Jainism originated in Magadha and then spread everywhere. From Magadha, Jaina Sangha reached Sauripura Janapada at Mathura. Mathurā’s stupa is well described in Jaina literature like Sthānānga-sūtra, Nishitha-sūtra, etc. In the Vividha-tirtha-kalpa (14th century), Jinapabhasuri narrates that the stupa was established by a deity Kubera in a single night for the worship of Jaina sangha in the time of 7th Tirthankara Suparsvanatha. It also describes that Pārsvanātha visited the city, saw the golden stupa and advised to cover it with bricks and sand to protect it from invaders. This stūpa was called ‘Deva Nirmita Vodva Stūpa’ as per record of donation of the year 49 of Kuṣāṇa period engraved on the pedestal of Munisuvrata (or Arhata Nandyāvarta) image. The nirvana of Jambusvami at Chorasi and the Mathuri Vachana’ by Arya Skandila in 3rd century A.D. provided the city a good name and fame. The tradition was kept alive by Jinabhadra-kshamashramana (circa 500-600 C. E.), who reconstructed the moth eaten text of the Nishitha-sutra. Jainacharyas continue to adore the shrines till the times of Hiravijaya-suri, a contemporary of Emperor Akbar.