Jaina Temples of Western India

SR No.: 006730
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Harihar Singh
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi
Publication Year: 1982
Total Pages: 362
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 27 MB

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Jaina Temples of Western India
leads from the ground to a platform on which it is is absent, and it is ascended by only one flight of perched, and the second, accommodated in the steps comprising nine treads. Besides, the antaraporch itself, leads to the balanaka. Square on plan patra of the pitha is wider and decorated with the porch rests on a moulded pitha, which consists diamonds; the base of the pillars and pilasters is of a bhitta, khura, kumbha decorated with half dia- made up of only a khura, kumbha decorated with half monds, kalaša, antarapatra, kapota adorned with diamonds, and kalata; the bharani is unfluted and caitya-arch device, and padma. On the pitha stand the brackets are carried by kicakas and kirttimukhas; two pillars and two pilasters supporting a ceiling the moonstone is absent, probably it has been remon a square frame of architraves. The pillars are oved during later times; the architraves carry lotus of the octagonal type and correspond to those seen medallions in the centre of their underside, each in the balayaka, but the kirttimukhas in the band having one row of petals and a pistil; the udumbara surmounting the shaft do not spew chains, and the shows stemmed lotus with geese on the central capital has a fluted bharaṇi and a four-armed projection, but the diamonds on its two sides are kicaka bracket. The five-faceted pilasters are absent; and the lalața depicts a four-armed lalitāsimilar to the pillars, but the kalasa of the base is sana image of Laksmi. replaced by a karņikā. The architraves are quite plain. The ceiling is made by cutting off the cor- The eastern porch, similar on plan to the other ners, comprising three tiers of nine stones. The porches, rests on a wide platform which fills up the central stone depicts an open lotus having two space between this temple and the Paravanatha rows of petals. The lotus is set up in a square temple situated beside it on the east. The pilasters bordered by lotus scrolls and having kirttimukhas at and ceiling are similar to those seen in the western the four corners. Tbe porch is shaded by an over- porch, but here the circular section of the shaft hanging corrugated eave-cornice. From each corner carries one more band of kirttimukhas, and the bracof the roof and supported by the eave-cornice emer- kets of the columns carry only kicakas. The door ges an elephant carved wholly in the round.
is of the trišakha type, consisting of patrašakha
carved with creepers, stambhasakha, and bähyafakha From the remains of an impost on one pillar decorated with lotus petals. The stambhafakha is and the slot left in the centre of the underside of
octagonal at the base, sixteen-sided in the middle the architrave it appears that originally there was
and circular on the top, the last section bearing a torașa-arch thrown between the pillars.
four decorative bands of scrolls, diamonds alternaThe door leading to the balanaka is of the ted by beads, beaded garlands, and kirttimukhas. single-Sākhā variety. It is decorated with foliate The stambhasākha is flanked on each side by a scrolls and is flanked on the outer side by a band bakulamala. The lower part of the fākhas is occuof lotus petals. At the base of the jamb stands a pied by a standing female figure with her hands female carrying water pot. The udumbara shows a hanging on the sides; she is accompanied on the semi-circular projection carved with stemmed lotus outer side by a female attendant and on the inner in the centre, a projecting kirttimukha on each side side by another female carrying conch-shell. The of it, and rosette-marked diamonds on either extre- udumbara shows a semi-circular projection carved mity. The uttarariga continues the decoration of with stemmed lotus filled with geese in the centre the jamb and depicts a padmāsana Jina in dhyāna- and a small lotus medallion on its either side. The mudrā on the lalaţa. In front of the door is a moon jambs are surmounted on the uttaranga proper by stone which consists of an ardhacandra tied on a round capital consisting of karpika and padma. The either end with Sarkha and gagäraka. Below the space between the capitals is filled with the creeperstairway can be seen a similar moonstone resting band carried over here from the patrafakha and a on the platform.
band of Maladharas, both being interrupted in the
centre by two hovering figures carrying a miniature The western porch is similar on plan and in shrine. The overdoor depicts a figure of padmasana design to the northern one, but here the platform Jina in dhyanamudra in the centre as well as on