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 212

Characteristics and Chronology
195
to which the Ajitanātha temple largely owes in (rangamandapa and devakulikās), none of the earlier style and ornamentation. Further, the kumbha of temples is characterised by eight-armed images. the vedibandha bear a diamond-and-bead band on They have slender body and squarish faces and its shoulder, a feature also seen in the temple of wear more than one necklaces, a series of beaded Somanätha Phase III at Somnath built by Kumā. girdles, and a broad kațisätra; these characteristics rapāla in 1169 A. D. Its fikhara is the most are typical of the sculptures of this period. developed one, for, besides frrigas and urahirigas on the Sikhara of the Neminätha, this one shows
From the foregoing pages it is thus clear that pratyangas, tilakas and balcony models. The min- the Ajitanātha temple at Taranga was built later ute caitya-arches forming the lattice ornament of
than the Neminätha temple at Girnar; and its the Sikhara are also indicative of a later date (cf.
various characteristic features bring it closer to Figs. 72). The buffer wall in the Neminātha tem
the Vimalavasahi at Abu (rarigamandapa), Adinātha ple is lodged over by a blind window, while in
temple at Shatrunjaya and the temple of Somana
tha Phase III at Somnath, all built during the the Ajitanatha temple this takes the form of Sukanāsā which is also noticeable in the later built temple
reign of Kumārapāla. And therefore the date of Sambhavanātha at Kumbharia. While the
1164 A. D. mentioned in the Viravamśävali is quite samvarana of the gūdhamandapa in the Neminātha
befitting the architectural and sculptural peculi
arities of the temple, temple is adorned with kātas and ghanţās, the same in the present temple shows only the ghantās, each JAINA TEMPLE AT BHADRESHWAR crowned by a kalaša and a bija pāraka (cf. Figs. 55
According to the current tradition, this temple and 77). Unlike the pañcafakha door in the Nemi
was built by Jagadušāha of Bhadreshwar, 98 who nātha temple, here is found saptašākha door. One
flourished in the middle of the 13th century A.D. of the doorjambs is treated as harisafakha, and the
But the Jagadīcarita of Sarvānandasuri tells us that overdoor carries a cornice; these are late features
Jagadu adorned this temple with the followings :) and are found in the Vastupālavihāra at Girnar (1232 A. D.).
1. He adorned the temple with gold pitcher and
staff. The dome (cf. Figs. 56 and 81) of its gūdhama
2. He built three devakulikās of white marble udapa also shows kinship to the Neminātha temple
and a beautiful Aștāpada. at Girnar in having makara-brackets on the pillarcapitals supporting the dome, three successive
3. He installed 170 marble images of Jinas. gajatalus, and sixteen bracket figures of Apsaras 4. He covered the image of Pärsvanatha with athwarted the ceiling courses, but it shows some gold. advancement on that of the Neminātha temple.
Thus, it is clear that this temple was already Thus, while the kolas in the Neminātha temple are in existence and Jagadū made only some additions disposed on the principle of harmonial regression,
10m, to it. Dhaky has suggested that the old portions here they are arranged in co-radial regression, a
of this temple belongs to the phase of maturity characteristic also shared by the Neminātha temple
(early 10th century A.D.), 10 but he does not say at Kumbharia (circa 1136 A. D.). Again, unlike
what are the old portions. As we shall see just the beautiful and perfect Apsarā figures in the
now there is nothing of this period. Neminātha temple at Kumbharia, here they are slender. A remarkable feature of the dome is that it
It is a full-fledged Jaina temple resembling on carries sixteen lāmās, a characteristic also found in
plan (Text Fig. 8 on page 169) and in design the the rangamandapa dome of the Vimalavasahi at Abu
Jaina temples at Kumbharia and Abu. Thus, it rebuilt about 1150 A. D.
veals all the essential elements of plan we get in the The sculptures of the temple are also indicative Pärsvanātha and the Neminātha temples at Kumof a later date. The images are both four-armed bharia, but shows advancement on both in the deand eight-armed. Except for the Vimalavasahi coration of the pitha and mandovara of the sanctum