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 207

190
Faina Temples of Western India
varaṇā respectively. Further, the domical ceiling (Fig. 28)place it anterior to the Santinātha temple. of the güdhamandapa carries eight bracket figures of Another proof of this period is that the ghata pallava Vidyadharas. These novel features in the Maha- capitals (Fig. 26) topping the jambs of the northern vira temple, which become an essential element of door of the gūdhamandapa are conventionalised, the later Taina temples, anticipate the Säntinātha although the same in the Sun temple at Modhera temple at Kumbharia, with which it has closest are represented in their perfect form. The Mabā. affinity. The sculptures of this temple also appro- vira temple, therefore, stands midway between the ximate those of the Vimalavasahi, but the angu- Vimalavasahi at Abu and the Säntirātha temple lar modelling of their limbs pionts towards a late at Kumbharia, and the date 1061 A. D. assigned date. The beautiful sanwaraņā (Fig. 24) and the to it befits well with the style of the temple, fine lattice ornament of the caitya-gavaksas (Fig. 23) on the Sikhara, the latter of course reminiscent of SANTINATHA TEMPLE AT KUMBHARIA those seen on the small shrines near the tank of the Stylistically, the Santinātha temple appears to be Sun temple at Modhera, are also indicative of this a close successor of the Mahavira temple at Kumbhadate.
ria. The plan and the general arrangement of the
two temples are exactly similar, but the Santinatha The interior of the temple also bears some pecu
cu- temple does not possess the balayaka, and the devakliar features. The devakulikās, which occur in gre
ulikās are 24 in number, although the niche type of ater number in this temple, are only 22 in number, devakulikās is continued. The pitha and mandovara six of them even in the form of niches, although of the sanctum and the gñdhamaydapa of these temtheir number should be at least 24, as we get in a
ples are similar to each other, but the Sikhara (Fig. little later built temple of Säntinätha at Kumbha
36) in the Santinātha temple is neither squat nor ria. Again, they are tantalizingly plain. The
heavy, and the rathikas at the base of the Sikhara are rangamandapa shows an octagonal arrangement of
flanked by balcony model, a feature commonly ornate pillars and a profusely carved domical met with in the later temples. Again, the amalaka ceiling with a large pendant (Fig. 31). Such an
is clasped by a fillet, and the caitya-arches forming arrangement of the rarigamandapa almost becomes
the lattice ornament of the Sikhara are oval-shaped, in all the later Jaina temples of Gujarat. losing thus the circular pristine form. But the pillars are not provided by an attic system (Fig. 32), a practice very common in the later The pitha, pillars and ceilings of the mukhamaJaina as well as Brähmanical temples; even the ndapa (Figs. 38-40) also show kinship to those of Šantinātha temple at Kumbharia, which is the the Mahavira ternple but are somewhat improved closest successor of this temple, does not lack this in the present temple. Here, the pitha is more characteristic. Further proofs of the above date ornate; as against the two-armed figures, here are are furnished by the narrative scenes (Fig. 24) dis- noticed four-armed figures on the sixteen-sided played in the side bays of the rarigamandapa. Here section of the pillar-shaft; the chain-and-bell ornaeach scene is carved in very pleasing relief. The ment on the pillar-shaft is independently shown,
of the reliefs are bold and easily recognize and instead of acanthus we find chain-and-bells able, for the scenes have not been complicated by alternating with tassels, an ornament which bethe accessory figures. The ornamental pitha, pillars comes very popular in the later temples; and the and ceilings of the mukhamandapa bear resemblance mandāraka element in the ceiling is correctly repreto those of the Sāntinātha temple there, but the sented by making pointed kolas (l'ig. 40). Further, two-armed figures on the sixteen-sided section of the ceilings bear some such characteristics as true the pillar-shaft, the composit depiction of acanthus ardhapadma motif, intersecting garland loops and and chain-and-bell on the round section of the shaft, Kinnar-couples at basal corners, which also estabthe plain and undeveloped khattakas, the fine nabhi- lish its posterity to the Mahavira temple, as these cchand (Figs. 29-30) and padmanabha (Fig. 27) eleme- features are noticed for the first time in this temple nts in the ceilings, and the round mandāraka ceiling and are frequently shown in the later temples. A
Jain Education Intemational