Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

SR No.: 006774
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Others
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 726
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 51 MB

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Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
are provided with attic system. The architraves across the pillars depict only a kirttimukha in the centre of the lower fascia and flat diamonds in the upper. Similarly, the domical ceiling (Pl. 65) is not shallow as it consists of ten circular courses, the first six displaying kirttimukhas, karņadardarikā, ratnapatta, gajatalu, rūpapatta showing a figure of Jina mother with laymen and laywomen and gajatālu, each of the next three being four-lobed kola and the last, a mono-kola. The pendant hanging down in the centre of the dome consists of three kola courses and has a longer staminal tube with two rows of petals. The dome has been reinforced by sixteen brackets figures (now gone) emerging from the square blocks of Vidyadhara brackets inserted in the third course and once tenoned into the seventh course. Each of the basal corners of the dome shows usual kirttimukha carved in bold relief. On the floor of the rangamandapa on the northern end here also is represented a rotating svastika symbol. Each of the side aisles is divided into seven bays, six having uncarved flat ceilings and one carrying a domical ceiling of seven circular courses. The space between the dome and nālamandapa is covered by three plain samatala ceilings.
The devakulikās, twenty four in number, are all symmetrical but for the central cell on each of the lateral sides. Their cloistered corridor displays one row of octagonal pillars. The pillars are tall and ornate and are overshadowed by a ribbed eave-cornice, unlike the corrugated one employed in the earlier temples. The pilasters flanking the doors of the cells, the architraves spanned across the columns and the ceilings supported by them are all ornate. The ceiling in front of each cell is domical consisting of four courses, the first being octagonal and the rest, circular. All the twelve ceilings in the east wing show incision of lotus petals on the four courses and a full-blown lotus flower on the key- stone. The same in the west wing displays figural and floral patterns and a small pendant hanging down from their centre. Each devakulika has a single-sakhā door decorated with foliate scrolls. At the base of the jamb
stands a door-guardian with female attendants. On the door-lintel appears a four-armed goddess rather than the usual Jina figure. The central devakulikā in either wing, i.e. the fifth from the southern end, is larger than the others and displays very ornate exterior and interior. Their tri-anga exterior walls depict images of the Dikpālas in their correct positions on the corner offsets and those of Jaina goddesses on the remaining ones. They are also roofed by a sikhara enmeshed with fine caitya-gavaksas. In the interior the two central devakulikās show very ornate square pillars and fivefaceted pilasters and have a fine ceiling of the domical order. Their doors are also richly carved. All the devakulikās are dedicated to Tirthankaras the enshrined images of whom are mostly gone. As is found in the earlier temples, the passage between the lateral doors of the gūdhamandapa and the outer entrances is covered by a pillared corridor with flat or domical ceilings.
The northern entrance porch shows an arrangement of six pillars and four pilasters to form four bays, three running east-west across the axial line and one jutting out from the central bay. It rests on a low terrace which is approached from the ground by a flight of seven steps. The pillars are of the octagonal order and the ceilings carried by them are flat and plain. The entrance door whence a stairway leads to the floor of the rangamandapa is of the single-sakhā variety adorned with foliate scrolls. To ward off rainwater the porch is overshadowed by an overhanging corrugated eavecornice.
The western entrance porch is square on plan and is landed up by a double flight of steps. It shows two pillars and two pilasters and is roofed by a plain flat ceiling.
The nālamandapa, built right above the northern porch and the stairway of seven steps, is a square pillared hall with an additional square bay towards the north end. It is laid out on a floor higher than the corridor and is approachable from the latter by two small steps. On the exterior as well as on the southern
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