Structural Temples of Gujarat

SR No.: 006728
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kantilal F Sompura
Publisher: Gujarat University Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 868
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 31 MB

Page 234

Structural Temples of the Caulukyan Period
179 spread their building activities over the following places : AŅhilpāțaka, 2 2 4/1 Stambhatirtha (Cambay), Dhavalakka, (Dholka), Satrunjaya, Pädliptapura (Palitana ) Arkapālita-grāma ( Ankavaliya) Stambhana (Thamna) Ujjaya yanta (Girnar ), Darbhāvati (Dabhoi) and Arbuda (Abu). Thus in the case of Vastupāla and Tejapāla we find that the literature of the period credits them with having built a very large number of temples of which only a few survive; the rest were probably broken by the Muslims. Of these those temples which can be definitely ascribed to them are the temples at Girnar and Abu.
Vastupāla Temple At Girnar.
The present temple of Vastupala at Girnar consists of three shrines (Triple shrines ), Mallinātha the 19th Tirthankara is enshrined in the central, while in the shrines on the sides are Sumeru ( Astāpada) and Sameta Sikhara. 2 2 5 There are six incriptions embedded over many doors of this temple which give an idea of the religious activities of two brothers. The temple at Girnar is said to have been built by Vastupala to increase his own merit and that of his wife Lalitādevi. The inscriptions then claim that Vastupāla and his younger brother Tejapāla had by the year (V)S. (12)76 erected one crore of temples and renovated many old ones at great and renounced places of pilgrimage such as Satrunjaya. Arbudācala and in prosperous cities such as Anhilapura, Bhộigupura, Stambhanakapura, Stambhatirtha, Darbhāvati, Dhavalakka and many other places. Of these only at Abu the temple of Tejapala can be definately identified.2 2 8
22481. Vastupālacaritram (A. D. 1441) of Jinaharşa refers to Ahaçadeva caitya, Koraițavalagacchiya caitya, Sanderavāla-vasti, and Mallinātha Jinālaya at Patan where Vastupāla or Tejapāla did one or other sort of Suksta (good deed). 225. AKK. Plts. XXXIII & XXXIV. Here Figs. 118, 232. 226. Girnar Inscriptions: ARBP, 283-302 also HIG. Vol. 3 nos. 207212. Someśvara, the author of Kirtikaumudi, was responsible for drafting