Kankali Tila

Kankali Tila

Jaini Mound

General view of the excavations in January 1889 at Kankali Tila, Mathura Kankali Mound in Map of Mathura (1901) 1.5km 1mile    Kankali Tila in Mathura

Shown within India Kankali Tila (Uttar Pradesh) Kankali Tila (Asia)

A Kankali Tila plate, with an inscription mentioning the year 42 of the reign of Northern Satraps ruler Sodasa.

The Kankali Tila inscription of Sodasa (from the above plate). This inscription mentions the rule of Svamisa Mahakṣatrapasya Śodasasa (from the beginning of the second line): "Of the Lord and Great Satrap Śodāsa".

Kankali Tila (also Kankali mound or Jaini mound) is a mound located at Mathura in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The name of the mound is derived from a modern temple of Hindu goddess Kankali. The famous Jain stupa was excavated here in 1890-91 by Alois Anton Führer (Dr. Führer).

The mound almost rectangular in shape is 500 feet long by 350 feet broad. Kankali Tila brought forth many treasures of Jain art. The archaeological findings testifies the existence of two Jain temples and stupas. Numerous Jain sculptures, Ayagapattas (tablet of homage), pillars, crossbeams and lintels were found during archaeological excavations. Some of the sculptures are provided with inscriptions that report on the contemporary society and organization of the Jain community.

Most sculptures could be dated from the 2nd century BC to the 12th century CE, thus representing a continuous period of about 14 centuries during which Jainism flourished at Mathura. These sculptures are now housed in the Lucknow State Museum and in the Mathura Museum.

Excavation

General view of the excavations in January 1889 at Kankali Tila, Mathura

Alexander Cunningham worked at the western end in March and November 1871. The objects found by Mr. Cunningham were all Jain, with the exception of one ten-armed Brahmanical figure. Mr. Growse operated on the northern portion in 1875. In Volume XVII of the "Reports" (page 111), Mr. Cunningham noted that in the season of 1881-82 he dug up many Jain figures, including one inscribed with the name of Vardhamana, the last of the 24 Jain Tirthankara. Dr. Burgess and Dr. Fuhrer extended the excavations to the eastern end at different times from 1887 to 1896. Mr. Harding, a predecessor of Mr. Growse as Magistrate of Mathura, also made some excavations. The excavations at Kankali Tila acted as a testimony to the claims made by Jains regarding the great antiquity of their religion.

Images of Neminatha found in Kankali Tila dating back to Kushan period depicts him as a cousin of Krishna and Balarama.

Significance

The sculptures and the inscriptions found at Kankali Tila suggest that in that period a clear Digambar-Shwetabar division had not risen. The Tirthankar images are all unclothed and monks are represented as not wearing a loincloth, but with cloth on one forearm as described in ancient Śvetāmbara texts such as the Ācārāṅga Sūtra and the Kalpa Sūtra. The names of divisions of the monastic orders in inscriptions found at the Kankali Tila match exactly with those given in the ancient Śvetāmbara text Kalpasutra.

Gallery

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  1st Jain Tirthankara Rishabhanathaswami (Circa 8th Century CE) Barsana Government Museum Mathura
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  A quadruple Jain Image
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  Quadruple Jain Image, excavated from Kankali Tila, c. 1st century CE
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  Jain Tablet Homage Set-up by Vasu the daughter of Courtesan Lavana Sobhika - Circa 1st Century CE - Kankali Mound (ACCN 00-Q-7 - Government Museum, Mathura)
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  Description of the tablet
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  Jina in meditation
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  Idol of Rishabhanatha, first Jain Tirthankara, excavated from Kankali Mound (Government Museum - Mathura)
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  Three Quadruple images of Tirthankar excavated from Kankali Tila, c. 42 BCE(V.S. 15)
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  Images of Tirthankar Mahavira excavated from Kankali Tila
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  Colossal Head of Jineshvara (Gupta Period)
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  Jain Images and Stupa - Bronze - Modern Period. Government Museum Mathura
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  Tirthankar Lord Parshwanatha (1014 CE) Kagarol Government Museum Mathura
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  Jain Tirthankara Lord Naminatha - (Circa 12th Century CE) ACCN 00-B-77. Government Museum Mathura
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  Tirthankara Lord Parsvanatha (Post Gupta Period) - Kosi Kalan ACCN 18-1505 Government Museum Mathura
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  Tirthankara Lord Neminatha (Circa 12th Century CE) ACCN 00-B-77 Government Museum Mathura
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  Jain votive plaque (c. 200 CE)
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  Kankali Tila inscription of Kanishka, Year 5 and 7
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  Pillars
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  Jain Yakshini Ambika (Mediaeval Period) Government Museum Mathura
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  Jain Yakshini Chakreshvari devi
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  Jain statue inscribed Samvat 1134 (1077 CE), about 60 years after the sack of Mathura by Mahmud of Ghazni. Kankali Tila, Mathura.

See also

• Jainism

References

Sources

• Smith, Vincent Arthur (1901), The Jain stupa and other antiquities of Mathura, Allahabad, Printed by KFrank Luker, Superintendent, Government Press, North-Western Provinces and Oudh
• Das, Kalyani (1980), Early Inscriptions of Mathurā
• Thomas, Edward (1877), "Jainism or The early faith of Asoka", Nature, 16 (407), London: London, Trübner & co.: 329, Bibcode:1877Natur..16..329., doi:10.1038/016329a0
• Vyas, Dr. R. T., ed. (1995), Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects, The Director, Oriental Institute, on behalf of the Registrar, M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, ISBN 81-7017-316-7