Jain Yug 1958

SR No.: 536282
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sohanlal M Kothari, Jayantilal R Shah
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Conference
Publication Year: 1958
Total Pages: 82
Language: Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Yug, & India
File Size: 8 MB

Page 36

જૈન યુગ
30
નવેમ્બર ૧૯૫૮
former Rām Sagar. This was an artificial lake formed by an embankment thrown on its southern side over a rivulet called Mugha Nala. Only recently the embankment was cut and the area of the lake taken under cultivation. The old village, on account of its ramparts locally known as "Kot", is now deserted. It was built on the south-west corner of the lake. Mukherji speaks of a still earlier settlement, called Budhi Dudahi and situated to the north and south of the "Kot", Ruins of Hindu and Jain monuments, all in a more or less ruined condition and accessible only by footpaths, are scattered over the area to the west and to the south of the lake. Although the extant structures and sculptures are not of first rate importance, it would be sad if the decay of the site, which has made rapid progress since Cunningham's visit, were to continue. The Jain monuments require no special preservation measurements, but it must be feared that the extant Hindu temples will collapse completely if no steps were taken to protect them against further ruin.
The Hindu monuments include the "Choți Surang" (mostly collapsed); the “Badi Surang's (Fig. 4 shows the better preserved side, the other sidehascollapsed); a circular temple of the type of the Caunsat Yogini temple at Bheraghat but without extant mūrtis ; and a huge image of Narasimha cut in low relief in a vertical rock. The groundplan of the "Baçi Surang" is probably unique in Northern India: the garbhagrha is open to either side. The Narasimha relief is
remarkable not for its age or for its artistic merits, but for its unusual dimensions: it measures 27 feet in height. All the monuments can be assigned to the 10th to the 12th century, the Narasimha alone being later.
Amongst the Jain monuments two colossal images stand out. They can easily be reached from the forest resthouse by a path running on the ridge of the embankment. They fall within the main group of monuments (on the south-west corner of the Rām Sagar) which include also the two Surangs. The seated Jina (Figs. 1 and 3) faces eastwards, the standing Jina (Fig. 2) faces westwards. The latter monument is situated to the east of the former. Both sculptures are protected by high walls, the standing figure on all four sides, the seated one on three sides (the front being open). The walls are for the most part later repair-work, and the only part of the old structures which is still intact is a four-pillared mandapa in front of the cella with the standing Jina.
The seated Jina (Figs. 1 and 3). This is actually a composition of three Jinas, one seated in the middle and two standing to the left and right. The central mürti measures about 12 feet in height.
We start with a discussion of the pedestal of the central image. The two lions are shown dos à dos. We see the animals only from the side, and the erect neck is set off at a sharp angle from the body. This attitude is unusual and does not recur on the pedestals of the two standing images showing one of the more familiar versions of the lionmotif. Lions of the first type are however on the pedestals of some Jina
4. The word "surang" refers to the hollow interior of the sikharas of the two temples which has been exposed to view on account of the ruinous condition of the structures.
5. Cunningham tried to show that this was a Jain temple. His arguments are how. ever not very convincing.
6. There is a third colossal Jina (standing) mentioned in literature; I was however not able to see this specimen.