Jaina Art and Architecture Vol 03

SR No.: 011014
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A Ghosh
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 403
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 218

CHAPTER 36]
ARCHITECTURE being the places of Worship they could be dealt with under the present heading. '
CATURVIMSATI-JINĀLAYA
The caturvinnsati-Jinalaya is a set of twenty-four deva-kulikäs or devakosthas (fig. XLI. p. 511), literally the small sanctuaries, each with a Tirthankara serially installed in it, starting from the southern jamb of the eastern gate and ending with the same jamb of the western gate, so as to form three rows of eight each, the central one facing the main sanctuary in the temple. The Tirthankara, whoever he is in the main sanctuary, would not be repeated but be replaced by Sarasvati, the goddess of learning.
This type of temples has been very popular right from the medieval period to this day, though the arrangement of the small sanctuaries can be seen varying on plan. The caturvinnsati-pata or a panel depicting the twenty-four Tirtharkaras may be taken to be a miniature caturvirśatiJinalaya, which can be seen also in the rock-cut form.
THE MERUS
There are five Merus, named Sudarśana, situated in the centre of the Jambu continent. Vijaya in the east and Acala in the west of Dhāta and Mandara in the east and Vidyun-målin in the west of the inner half of the Puskara-vara. All the five are situated one each in the Videha-kşetras and have one and the same characteristics, except slight differences in height, the one in the Jambu being the highest and as such called Sumeru instead of Meru.
The Sudarśana, being 1,000 yojanas under and 95,000 yojanas above the ground level, touches the upper level of the lower world and lower level of the upper world. Its diameter decreases from 10,090 yojanas and the eleventh of a yojana at the lowermost level to 10,000 yojanas at the ground level where it is encircled here by the Bhadra-sala forest. Therefrom at the height of 500 yojanas it again decreases by 500 yojanas to make the Sumeru encircled here by the Nandana forest. Then at the height of 60,500 yojanas the decrease again is the same and the encircling forest here is Saumanasa. Thence at the height of 36,000 the decrease is of 494 yojanas, where the encircling forest is Panduka, and, whereform rises the 40-yojana cūlikā or
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