Kankali Tila
Mound located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh
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Images and inscriptions
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 State Museum Lucknow and in the Mathura Museum.
Images of Rishabhanatha, first tirthankara in Jainism, dating back to 100 BCE were found along with images of Nilanjana's dance in his court. Images of Neminatha, 22nd tirthankara in Jainism, is found in Kankali Tila dating back to Kushan period depicts him as a cousin of Krishna and Balarama. Headless image of Parsvanatha, 23rd tirthankara in Jainism, is dated from 100 BCE to 75 BCE.
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Excavation
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.
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.