The Mauryan art is believed to be inspired from Achaemenid or Persian influence. We can find a lot of similarities in terms of form and style in the inscriptions of Ashoka and the Persian king Darius.
Sakatayana was a Jain writer of the 9th century A.D.He lived during the reign of Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha. He was the founder of a new school. His main work was Sabdansusana.