A Note on a Jain Artifact in the Lahore National Museum
Summary
The article presents a letter from Dr. Waldemar C. Sailer to Ganesh Lalwani regarding an unidentified Jain artifact in the Lahore National Museum. Sailer, studying Buddha Footprints, encountered a bas-relief artifact depicting what he initially mistook for a four-Buddha theme but could not decipher. The artifact features a double-line inscription and a single-line inscription, which Sailer transcribed and translated. The inscription mentions the establishment of footprints of four figures: Atmaramajitsuti, Srimadbuddhi-vijaya, Srimadkumudavijaya, and Srimat-svami-lakshmi-vijaya. The text dates these to Mahavira year 2434, Vikramaditya year 1965 (6th day of Vaishaka), and Vijayanandasamvat 12, noting they were created by a Sangha in Sri Gujaravata and installed by Srimad-bhattaraka-srivijayakamalasurisvara and Srimadviravijaya. Sailer’s main argument is that the artifact illustrates auspicious Jain symbols, particularly the footprints of Tirthankaras, and seeks scholarly help to identify the mangalas (auspicious marks) and their textual sources. He references the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Art. VIII by C. Thomas, F.R.S., which lists the 24 Tirthankaras with their symbols (e.g., Rishabha with a Bull, Mahavira with a Lion). Sailer also mentions Colebrooke’s Essays, As. Res., and Mr. Burgess’s Indian Antiquary as additional sources. He contrasts this with the Jain tradition of eight auspicious marks, noting that the footprints do not display them. The artifact is described as a beautiful bas-relief, possibly from Sikandaravada (a city possibly built by Alexander), and is compared to a similar set of footprints he saw in Calcutta. Sailer asks for information on Jain text translations and the source of the mangalas. The editor published the letter and inscription for scholarly knowledge, as Lalwani was unwell to take action.
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Conclusion
This note identifies a significant Jain artifact in the Lahore National Museum, featuring a series of carved footprints accompanied by extensive inscriptions. The primary finding is the translation of these epigraphs, which reveal the artifact's dedication to four Jain figures: Atmaramajitsuti, Srimadbuddhi, Srimadkumudavijaya, and Srimatsvami-laksmi-vijaya. The inscriptions provide precise historical and chronological data, dating the installation to 1008 Mahavira Samvat (1852 CE) and 1965 Vikrama Samvat (1909 CE). The artifact's significance lies in its rich epigraphic content, which details the roles of key figures such as Srimad-bhattarakasrivijayakamalasurisvara and Srimadviravijaya in consecrating the footprints. Furthermore, the artifact serves as a valuable visual and textual record of early 19th-century Jain practices, illustrating the tradition of carving auspicious footprints and the specific iconographic symbols associated with the Tirthankaras.