Dancing in Celebration of the Jinas: A Study of Performing Artists and Performing Arts in Ancient Jainism.

This paper examines Jain sculptures, performing arts, and festivals in ancient India, focusing on the role of abhinaya, as codified in Bharata’s Nāṭyaśāstra, in Jain culture. Using a sculpture of a dancer performing in the presence of Jina Ṛṣabhanātha from Kaṅkālī Ṭīlā, Mathura (c. 100 BCE) as a case study, the paper examines it with reference to epigraphical sources and to contemporary Buddhist and Jain representations of performances from Mathura and Bharhut. This analysis highlights the importance of performers and performances in the religious life of ancient India and shows that sculptors skillfully integrated the technical language of dance into their works, thus imbuing sculptures with layered meanings, including religious concepts and the expression of emotions. The paper demonstrates how examining sculptures of performances can enhance our understanding of ancient performing artists, their arts, and the cultural significance of festivals and celebrations in ancient India.