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

Page 144

Description of Temples
corner is carved with a kirttimukha. The next three courses are padma, each showing incision of lotus petals. The circular slab covering up the dome depicts a full-blown lotus flower comprising two rows of petals The soffit of the corrugated eavecornice shading the porch is adorned with a band of diamonds and beads. The moonstone in front of the door consists of an ardhacandra tied at both ends with gagaraka, fankha and lotus stem, and flanked in turn by a talarupaka. The doorframe is similar to that observed in the eastern porch, with this difference that here the lalata has a four-armed lalitasana image of Laksmi.
In the southeast corner of the court is an independent chapel sheltering a four-faced Aṣṭāpada mount placed on a pañcaratha high pedestal. The chapel has entrances on all the four sides, those on the east and west being entered through a porch. The pedestal carries a series of six mouldings, viz. two bhittas, a jaḍyakumbha, a karṇikā, an antarapatra carved with diamonds, and a kapota. The corners of the pedestal are chamfered so much so that they give almost a diagonal effect. Horizontally, the mount is divided into five zones. The first has a fortified wall with the gateway guarded by two Pratihāras in each cardinal point. The second shows on each of the four faces three images of Jinas in the centre and two figures of Śravakas or Śrävikä and cauri-bearer on each side. The third is similar to the preceding one, but it displays a row of Śravakas below, the usual Śravakas are conspicuous by their absence. The fourth displays three piles of mountains arranged one above the other. The fifth has a square block with a quadruple of Jina seated in dhyanamudra; he is attended upon either side by a cauri-bearer. Fortunately, it bears an inscription of V. S. 1266 (1209 A. D.). Near the western entrance is a modern room for godown.
PĀRSVANATHA TEMPLE
The temple of Parsvanatha is slightly larger than the temples of Mahavira and Santinatha. On plan it closely follows the Mahavira temple, but in place of balaṇaka it has a nalamaṇḍapa built over a porch and a stairway leading from the latter to the rangamandapa. Besides, it has nine deva
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kulikäs on each of the lateral sides; the six niches on the front are converted into devakulikās; and the lateral entrance is to be found only on the west. Bhandarkar has suggested that an entrance also existed on the east, 79 but now no trace of the door is found there.
Mulaprāsāda
It is tryanga on plan, consisting of bhadra, pratiratha and karna, the bhadra being the longest and the pratiratha the shortest.
The pitha of the sanctum consists of a bhitṭṭa, jad yakumbha, karnika and paṭṭikā. The vedibandha is composed of a khura, kumbha decorated with half diamonds, kalasa, antarapatra, and kapota decorated with caitya-arch device. The jangha, divided into two registers by a plain fillet and also topped by a similar fillet, is plain, except for projecting sculptured niches on the bhadras. The niches are surmounted by very short udgamas and are empty now. The varandika has an usual kapota and a ribbed eave-cornice, the soffit of which is decorated with a band of diamonds and beads. The entire wall has considerably suffered from restoration.
The whole of the fikhara is a modern erection.
The door of the sanctum is of the duifakha
variety, consisting of a patrasakha decorated with foliate scrolls and a fakha carved with rosette-marked diamonds and beads. Each fakha is flanked on the outer side by a strip of lotus petals. The udumbara shows a semi-circular projection carved with stemmed lotus in the centre, a projecting kirttimukha on each side of it, and rosette-marked diamonds on either extremity. The uttaranga continues the decorative bands of the jambs but is interrupted in the centre by the lalatabimba which represents a padmasana Jina in dhyanamadrā,
Inside the sanctum is installed a saparikara image of Parsvanatha seated in dhyanamudra on a moulded pedestal. The image is a late one; this is indicated by an inscription of V.S.16.. carved upon its cushion. The moulded pedestal, however, seems to be old. It carries mouldings of bhiṭṭa, jādyakumbha, karṇikā, antarapatra and fillet,