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

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346 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME style, of the fifteenth century. The devakulikas have been recently substituted by new ones. We have discussed, in this survey, the more notable examples of Jaina temples ranging in date between the late eighth and late eleventh century. For limitations of space, Dilwara temples and the temples at Kumbharia have been excluded from the survey. They need independent monographs.74 There are quite a few other interesting temples on which we could not dwell but the nature of which may be alluded here for completing information, if not comparing the detailed aspects. A portion of the Jaina temple-founded by Pratihara Kakkukaraja at Ghatiyala-is still standing but of not much usefulness since severely plain in treatment.75 The Jaina temple at Mandor preserves a few pillars of the tenth century. Temples at Taranagar in Bikaner area and the Jaina temple at Rani possess an older fabric datable to the tenth century. The Jaina temple at Kekind reconstructed in the middle of fifteenth century preserves three door-frames of the original tenth century fane. The temples just mentioned followed the Maha-Maru style of architecture. There were contemporaneous temples in Maha-Gurjara style as well. The temple of Mahavira (960) at Nana preserves plain but older mouldings in the elevation of the sanctum. The image of Mahavira at Diyana was consecrated in 967 in the time of Paramara Krsnaraja of Abu though the temple in which it was enshrined is no more extant. There are likewise a few temples in Maha-Gurjara style, of the early eleventh century. The Parsvanatha temple at Sanderav, of Nadol idiom and the Jaina temple at Barlu of the Arbuda idiom are Latina shrines with a fine jala work on the sikhara but simpler socle and wall. The Mahavira temple at Mungthala, Kasindra temple and the Jaina temple at Jhadoli of the same age are likewise plain. The survey of the Jaina temples erected particularly between the eighth and early eleventh century in Rajasthan, whether recorded in literary sources, inscriptions, some still extant, reveals a curious fact that a large majority of them were sacred to Jina Mahavira. The Astottari 74 My monograph on the Dilwara temples is in press. A long paper on Kumbharia temples is being published by the Department of Archaeology, Government of Gujarat: 75 R. C. AGRAWAL has published its details in the Journal of the : Oriental Institute, Baroda', Vol. XVI, No. (1963)...