Symbol and Image Worship in Jainism

Abstract

The history of Jainism in Mathura has been reconstructed largely on the basis of donative inscriptions and the remains of temples, stūpas and tīrthaṅkara images unearthed in this area. The āyāgapaṭas—an integral part of Mathura art and extremely important for the understanding of Jaina art and religious practice—have been relatively neglected. The āyāgapaṭas reflect the simultaneous existence of symbol and image worship in Jainism. The practice of donating these carved slabs started in the first century BCE and continued till the third century CE. The āyāgapaṭas were intended for worship as the inscriptions specify that they were set up for the worship of arhats (tīrthaṅkaras).

 This article aims to understand the āyāgapaṭa inscriptions in the context of their relief carvings. The religious imagery on these slabs represents various foci of Jaina worship, namely the stūpa, the dharmacakra and the Jina image. The evidence of the Jina image carved on the āyāgapaṭas as early as the first century BCE, points towards the prevalence of image worship in Jainism even before the first century CE. The analysis of the āyāgapaṭa inscriptions highlights the varied occupational background of donors and the active role played by women donors. The article explores the probable reasons for the discontinuation of āyāgapaṭas after the third century CE at Mathura. Finally, it clearly establishes that āyāgapaṭas were installed in temples and monasteries and were objects of worship and an important component of Jaina religious practice.