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
case they are alternating with tassels formed of they appear on the four ridges (Fig. 77). Carved beaded chains issuing from the mouth of the wholly in the round they are depicted here as sitting kirttimukhas themselves. The kirttimukhas also serve on their hind legs. an architectural purpose when they are employed
The elephants occur in rows on the priha and as bracket figures on the pillar-capitals. Some
ceiling. Here their profile and front parts are sculptures of the kirttimukhas are of great artistic
shown in high relief. When the elephants appear merits; mention may be made here of those found
at the basal corners of the ceiling, two elephants at the basal corners of the rangamandapa dome in
are depicted as lustrating a lotus plant. On the the Jaina temples at Kumbharia.
fikhara their front part is depicted in the recesses. The Sārdālas or vyālas are fabulous beasts repre. When they occur at the corners of the roof they sented as horned lions. Executed in the round or are carved wholly in the round and are represented very high relief they are generally shown at the in the walking attitude. The elephants in the hastisouter flank of the pilasters of the parikara. Here ala of the Vimalavasahi and Lūņavasahi at Abu are they are represented in small sizes. In the Nemi. executed of huge blocks of marble. These elephants, nātha temple at Girnar they are portrayed as particularly those in the Länavasahi (Fig. 103), are bracket figures in the dome of the gūdhamandapa heavily loaded with ornaments, are well polished, (Fig. 56), and in the Ajitanātha temple at Taranga and are rare pieces of art. In the Vimalavasahi at they appear on the walls of the gâdhamandapa. In Abu the elephants are also seen on either side of both these temples the $ārdalas are shown in large the stairways leading to the mukhamandapa and sizes. The fārdālas are also seen in a corridor gidhamandapa. ceiling of the Vimalavasahi at Abu. The Sārdūlas are
The animal sculptures in the form of kirttimukhas popularly depicted in the Jaina temples of Gujarat,
are seen as early as the Adinātha temple at Vadbut they did not acquire as much popularity as we
nagar. Subsequently, they gained much popularity, notice in case of the kiritimukhas.
as all the Jaina temples of the period preceding The nāgas have the body of a snake and the face the mid-12th century A. D. contain animal sculptuof a human being. They occur only on the ceilings res. The Vimalavasahi at Abu is the last Jaina of the Pārsvanatha temple at Kumbharia and the temple to show the largest number of animal figures Vimalavasahi at Abu. In the Pärávanātha temple and the maximum varieties in their forms. Aftertheir tiny figures are seen on the points of the kolas wards they decrease in number, and by the time of the gūdhamandapa dome, while in the Vimalava- of the Lūnavasahi at Abu they are mostly replaced sahi they are depicted in coils in one of the ceilings by the geometrical and vegetal patterns. Subseof the east portico of the rangamandapa. Their latter quently, they are rarely seen; this can be very well form got much popularity during later times, e. g. observed in the Jaina temple at Miani and the in the Jaina temple at Ränakapura (Rajasthan). Mahävira temple at Kanthkot. The makaras with floriated tails occur on the
The eighth and last category consists of floral, arches, brackets and parikara; geese in rows oppear
vegetal and geometrical designs. These comprise on the pillars and ceilings; lions are shown on the
scrolls, creepers (Fig. 10), lozenges (diamonds), and ceilings and the samvaranā; and elephants occur on
flowers of lotus, campaka and mandāraka. These also the pitha, Sikhara, roof, ceiling and in the hastiśālā. The makaras fulfil an architectural purpose when
add to the sculptural wealth of the Jaina temples of
our region. In the earlier temples these patterns they are employed as bracket figures on the pillarcapitals. The whole block of the praņāla is always
appear in bold and pleasing relief, but with the treated as a figure of makara with open mouth
lapse of time they become minute and artificial. (Fig. 79). Elsewhere the makara is depicted as a
Another notable thing about them is that in the
earlier temples such as the Vimalavasahi at Abu, decorative figure.
they do not compete the figure sculptures in The lions occur in rows in the ceilings; here they number and variety, but in the later temples such are generally shown in profile. On the sankuaraņā as the Lūnavasahi at Abu they get the upper hand