| Pārśvanātha Āyāgapaṭa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Ayagapata |
| Material | Red sandstone |
| Size | 86 by 94 centimetres (34 by 37 in) |
| Created | circa 15 CE |
| Period/culture | Northern Satraps |
| Discovered | January 1891 27°36′00″N 77°39′00″E |
| Place | Kankali Tila, Mathura, India. |
| Present location | State Museum Lucknow |
| Classification | Jain art |
  Kankali Tila, Mathura, (Discovery) | |
The Pārśvanātha āyāgapaṭa, is a large stone slab discovered in Kankali (area of Mathura) which has an image of Parshvanatha, dating back to reign Sodasa, of Indo-Scythian Northern Satrap, the ruler Sodasa in Mathura.[1] The tablet in the State Museum Lucknow (room J.253).[2][3] It is an important example of Mathura art.
This votive tablet, which is essentially an ayagapata, though not so called, represents an image of Parshvanatha in the center surrounded by a bunches of lotus.[4] Parshvanatha is depicted in lotus position seated on a pedestal with a seven-hooded sesha hood above his head.[5] The iconography flanked by two ardhaphalaka monks with colapatta draped over left arms, with their hands in añjali mudrā.[6][7] Similar to Dhanamitra ayagapata, Parshvanatha is in dhyāna mudrā with ankle crossed in padmasana position and shrivatsa on the chest.[8][9] The moulding of sawtooth design below the pedestal on which Jina is seated is considered to be a version of Mount Meru type of pedestal, which underscores Jina seated on the axis of the world.[10]
Surrounding the central circle in a larger concentric ring with four nandavarta, between each interstice of nandavarta is a half-opened lotus flanked by two smaller buds. In four spandrels there are carvings of different motifs namely an elephant frolicking with lotuses, a seated lion, honeysuckle, and rearing gryphons with lotus in their mouth. There is a carving of a grapevine growing out of a pot at the median on the left border.[10]
The inscription at the base is much mutilated. The characters are of an archaic type before the Kushan era.[5] What is left of the record reads as follows:
Namo arahaňtânâ Sivagho[shaka] sa bhari[yá] ... nâ ... nâ
"Adoration to the Arhats! .... the wife of Sivaghoshaka ...."
— Inscription of the Parsvanatha ayagapata (Translation by Alois Anton Führer)[11]
The Parsvanatha ayagapata was originally dated back to 1st century BCE by Bühler.[12] However, was later identified by Quintanilla to be datable to c. 15 CE during the reign Sodasa, of Indo-Scythian Northern Satrap, the ruler Sodasa in Mathura.[1][3][13]
