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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Faina Temples of Western India
ribbed eave-cornice whence rises the samvaranā of surmounted by a band of chequer pattern and the gädhamandapa (Fig. 77). The samvaraņā is com- terminated on top in lotus petals. The upper posed of nineteen horizontal tiers, receding as they one is circular and is clasped on the upper half by ascend and topped at the apex by a large ghanta three decorative bands representing garland loops which consists of a cogged bell, an amalaka, a kalasa and foliage, rosette-marked diamonds and beads, and a bija pāraka. The horizontal line of each tier and kiritimukhas alternating with tassels respectively. is studed with alternate large and small ghantas, The capital has a double-course round fluted bharani each being a replica of the main ghanga. The ghanţās of karņika and padma, surmounted by four-armed in the cardinal directions, however, gradually double-roll brackets, the side face of each bracket become larger at their ascent and are crowned of which is carved with half kirttimukha. The by rampant lions who at some places have architraves are divided into three fasciae. The disappeared. This type of gradation of the lower one is decorated with foliate scrolls issuing cardinal ghanțas is singular in the temples of Guja- from the mouth of a kiritimukha carved in the rat. The bottom line of the samvaramā is studed centre. The intermediate fascia is carved with with kūtas alternating with balcony models. The intersecting garlands and foliage. The upper one kūtas shelter lalitasana goddesses on their two faces. bears decoration of rosette-marked diamonds. In In the interior the roof is strengthened by wooden the centre of their underside is carved in low relief cross bars. The original wall of the gadhamandapa a lotus medallion having two rows of petals. The above the mukhamandapa and on each side entrance samatala ceiling is relieved with sixteen full-blown porch is destroyed, and a later one is erected in its lotus flowers disposed in four lines of four each. place to accommodate an open arched entrance of Each flower consists of two corollas of petals and the Muhammadan style.
is set up in a square bordered by a band of dia
monds and beads and having kirttimukhas at the Attached to the bhadra projections of the gūdha- four corners. On two sides of the ceiling is a foliate mandapa, the two lateral entrance porches are alike. scroll-band. The ceiling is raised up by a square They are landed up from the courtyard by a flight of frame of sur-architraves jutting out in the space of eleven steps cut across the pitha mouldings. Square the ceiling. The inner face of the sur-architraves on plan each parch rests on two tall, massive pillars is decorated with a row of geese, while their underand has a carved samatala ceiling supported on side depicts a band of lotus scrolls. architraves spanned across the pillars and the doorjambs, the architrave across the door-jambs being The door of each porch is of the saptafakha conspicuous by it absence. Its roof, now damaged, variety, consisting of a patrašakha decorated with has a corrugated eave-cornice, the soffit of which foliate scrolls, a Sakha decorated with diamonds on the outer edge is decorated with a band of dia-
and beads, again a sakha decorated with diamonds
and beads again a takl monds and beads. From each corner of the roof and beads, a stambhašakha, a Sakha decorated with and supported by the eave-cornice emerges an ele- diamonds and beads, again a fakha decorated with phant carved in the round. The pillars of the porch diamonds and beads, and a fakha consisting of are of the octagonal type. The base of these pillars karņika and padma carved with lotus petals. The consists of a khura, a kumbha representing convex- Sakhās are separated from one another by bakulasided half diamonds stencilled with flamboyant malās. The lower part of the five-faceted stambhapattern on the body and a jewelled band on the sakha is occupied by a Pratihāra, while the upper shoulder, a kalaša, an antarapatra decorated with part is clasped at intervals by four decorative stepped diamonds, a kapota carved with caitya-arch bands of Māladharas, geese, flamboyant pattern in pattern, and a grāsapatti. The shaft has three semi-circles, and diamonds. The top of the stambhasections, the lower being longer than the upper, Sakhā shows mouldings of a kumbha, a kalaša, an and the upper being longer than the middle. The antarapatra, two karnikas and a fillet, all clasped lower section is octagonal, terminating on top together by a large diamond. The stambhašakha is in leaves. The middle section is sixteen-sided, surmounted by a square capital which consists of a