Some Early Jaina Temples in Western India

SR No.: 250310
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M A Dhaky
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_
Total Pages: 58
Language: English
Classification: Article & Tirth
File Size: 19 MB

Page 73

342 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME (early 16th cent.) in his Tirthamala and the inscription of 1541 in the temple attribute the authorship of the temple to Yasodevasuri and the. date given for the erection of the temple is 908 by both the sources. The bardic tradition prefers 954. Stylistically, however, the temple does not seem to be older than the end of tenth century, or at most a couple of decades earlier than the Sun temple at Modhera, the date of which is known to be 1027. The temple comprises a sandhara Mulaprasada connected with a Gudhamandapa (which does not possess balconied windows) followed by the Trika. The Rangamandapa and the surrounding Devakulikas are of later age, possibly of 1541 as gleaned from an inscription. In its elevational aspect, the temple has no pitha, a feature peculiar to the majority of Maha-Maru temples, early or late. The elevation starts with the vedibandha which remained unaltered during later repairs; but the wall above seems to have been considerably restored. The diameter of the Mulaprasada is about 9.08 M; while the garbhagTha is about 4.37 M wide. The kumbha of the vedibandha of the garbhagrha is carved with half diamonds and lotuses. A bold padmapatrika tops the wall. The treatment of the decorative motifs here is more vigorous than for the same motifs at Modhera. The doorsill shows figures of Yaksa Sarvanubhuti and Yaksi Ambika. The upper portion of the frame has undergone repairs. The sikhara above the Mulaprasada is not original. The Gudhamandapa possesses within a double row of columns; those four of the sala are of the ghatapallava order. The four free standing pillars of the Trika are also of the same class, all unfortunately under very thick coat of shrill colours. Compared to the size of the temple--the overall length with the Trika being 16.8 M-the columns are stunted and slender. A small, black image of a Jina in a niche in the Gudhamandapa may be contemporaneous with the original, older parts of the shrine. The Jaina temples next in date at Nadlai, erected possibly a generation later, are those of the Neminatha atop the southern hill and of Parsvanatha on the slope of the opposite hill, The Neminatha temple is a simple Latina shrine with an equally plain Gudhamandapa attached to which is a plain Latina Devakulika. The Parsvanatha temple seems stylistically to be contemporaneous with the Sun temple at Modhera with no figural carving, however, to decorate its walls. A still later temple, that of Santinatha and of late eleventh century, lies some