World Jain Conference 1987 4th Conference

SR No.: 014038
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satish Jain, Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Ahimsa International
Publication Year: 1987
Total Pages: 202
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 7 MB

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Of the post-Gupta and early mediaeval periods a large number of beautiful temples, sculptures, rock-cut reliefs and bronzes exist in various states of India. Amongst such early shrines the Meguti temple at Aihole, Karnataka dates from early seventh century A.D. There is besides a Jaina cave at Aihole assignable to the late sixth or c. early seventh century A.D of about the same age is a Jaina cave at Badami, the ancient capital of the Chalukyas in Karnataka. The cave has also a big panel of Mahavira with his yaksha and yakshi, carved at a later date. Scenes of Kamatha's attack on Parsvanatha, available in these caves at Aihole and Badami became more and more popular in the south and we have beautiful relief panels of this theme at Ellora, Kalugumalai, Humaca, Tirakkol, Kilakkudi, etc.
Of c.ninth century the Maladevi temple at Gyaraspur in Madhya Pradesh is especially noteworthy not only for its beautiful sculptures and iconography, but also for its architecture, being a beautiful example of Northern Indian sikhara temple. Earlier by about a century are two temples, one at Osia (Rajasthan) and the other at Devgadh fort near Lalitpur and Jhansi (U.P.) which are equally interesting for their architecture and sculpture.
Ranging from ninth to tenth centuries are a group of about four Jaina caves at Ellora which have not only some beautiful relief panels of scenes of aususterities practised by Parsvanatha and Bahubali, and figures of Tirthankaras, of Sarvanubhuti Yaksha and Ambika Yakshi, but also have several paintings on their ceilings which are an important landmark in the history of painting in India. Of about this age, c. ninth century, we also have some exquisite examples of mural paintings in the Jaina cave at Sittannavasal in Tamil Nadu.
From about 8th-9th century onwards the Jaina contribution to Indian Art is so rich and varied that it is impossible to refer to it in some detail in this brief survey. Mention may however be made of some noteworthy groups of temples at Devgadh fort, chanderi, and Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, at Sravana Belgola, Humacha, Karkal, Mudabidri, Kambadhalli etc. in Karnataka, the temple complex at Tiruparuttikunram (Jina-Kanchi) in Tamil Nadu, the Delvada temples on Mt. Abu in Rajasthan, the Kumbharia temples near Abu, and the groups of temples at Satrunjaya and Girnar in Gujarat, and some individual temples like the tenth century S'italnatha temple at Zalrapatan and the Mahavira temple at Ghanerava in Rajasthan, the Navamuni and Barabhuji caves at Khandagiri, Orissa, the Nemi-Jinalaya at Tirumalai in Tamil Nadu, a few temples at Lakkundi, Lakshmeshvar, Jinanathapuram, Venur, Halebid etc. in Karnataka, the Jaina temples at Osia, Kesariyaji, Nadol, Nadlai, Ranakpur, etc. in Rajasthan, at Taranga in Gujarat, and so on. A large number of beautiful Jaina sculptures and bronzes are preserved in the museums at Calcutta, Patna. Lucknow, Mathura Delhi, Allahabad, Baroda, Bombay, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Mysore, Madras,
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