Studies in Indian Art c12.s13.1

c12.s13.1

The sculptures from the ancient Stūpa at Kankali Tila, Mathura, which was a monument raised by the pious Jaina community of that place, are highly interesting both for their symbolism and for their quality of art. Of the numerous statues and architectural pieces including railing pillars and *toraṇa* lintels found there none perhaps are so worthy of attention as the small number of beautifully carved stone slabs which bear the technical name of Āyāgapaṭṭas. This name was rendered by Bühler as a "tablet of Homage or Worship", since such slabs were put up in temples, for the worship of the Arhats (*Ep. Ind.* Vol. II, p. 314). It appears that in the domain of Indian art the Āyāgapaṭṭa as an item in the repertoire of religious devotees was peculiar to the early Jainas. The Buddhists do not show anything similar to a Jaina Āyāgapaṭṭa amongst the sculptures of their religion found from Mathura, although the two faiths flourished side by side for several centuries and also probably employed the same artists.