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

Page 73

Rock-cut Jaina Architecture
The cave at the back of the court and facing south facing south. It has a seated figure of Mahavira in the consists of a verandah, hall (24 ft. square and about shrine and two usual standing figures of Pārsvanatha 14 ft. high), vestibule and shrine (9 ft. by 7 ft. and and Bāhubali in the astylar hall. On the east side of about 11 ft. high). The verandah shows two square this cave is a stairway which leads to the upper storey pillars on the parapet wall in front and two more on of the Jagannātha Sabhā. a low partition wall separating the verandah from the The upper storey consists of a large twelve-pillared hall at the back. The parapet wall, which has been oblong hall (57 ft. by 44 ft. and about 14 ft. high) with finished only on the left of the entrance, carries elephant corresponding pilasters and a shrine carved in the back heads on the vedikä and purnaghatas on the kaksāsana. wall. The hall, divided into a central nave and In the west and east ends of the verandah are the images surrounding aisle by a score of twelve pillars, is enclosed of Sarvānubhūti and Ambikā sitting under trees with on the front by a low parapet wall with two pillars and attendants, all very sharply cut. The parapet pillars are two pilasters. The four corner pillars of the hall have square in section and consist of only shaft and capital. a square moulded base of jagati, inverted padma, fluted The shaft is plain below and fluted above, the latter kumuda and inverted padma; the two-third lower shaft showing a figure in niche on each face of the fluted is square and plain below and the one-third upper part square section, a band of jewelled and floral festoons is treated as circular fluted lasuna above, the latter with gaņa figures, carved diamond-band and short lasuna. carrying four cones adorned with floriated creepers and The capital shows double padma, bulbous ghata with extended up from the square shaft. The circular fluted a scroll band, and round corbel (Fig. 29). The other capital consists of triple padma, flattened bulbous ghata two pillars of the verandah are similar to those seen decorated with scroll-band, and a round corbel with in the west cave of the court, but the base is absent median scroll-band. The base and capital of the central here and the capital takes the shape of bulbous ghata pillars are similar to the corner ones but the shaft is with jewelled band.
circular here and shows a narrow faceted section, a The hall of this cave shows four square massive large fluted section, four very attractive and elaborate pillars in the slightly raised nave and ornate pilasters foliages, and constricted lasuna decorated with pearl at the peripheral wall. The nave pillars have a plain and floral festoons (Fig. 31; Pl. 12). The walls of the moulded base of jagati, inverted padma, kumuda and hall carry a large number of sculptures of Mahāvira padma, all clasped by a flat triangular boss. The shaft and Pārsvanātha, and its ceiling has remains of paintings. is square and plain below; above, it shows a beautiful On either side of the shrine is a pair of standing Jinas ghatapallava and a short fluted lasuna. The fluted round followed in their turn by Sarvānubhuti on left flank and capital has double padma, bulbous ghata with a scroll Ambikā on right. The door of the shrine shows fine band and round corbel (Fig. 30). The wall has the usual padma-, Vidyādhari-, and Jina-sakhās. On the lower standing figures of Pārsvanātha and Bahubali with part of the sākhās stand the river goddesses Gangā and attendant figures in the two central niches and seated Yamuna with their makara and kacchapa (tortoise) Jinas in the other six between the pilasters.
mounts on proper right and left respectively. Inside the The vestibule is entered through a fine torana- shrine is a Jina seated in meditation on a lion throne arch. The shrine contains a figure of Mahavira seated with triple umbrella. in dhyānamudrā on the throne.
The two parapet pillars are similar to the corner To the east of this cave is another cave, also pillars of the hall with this difference that the base is
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