Agam 06 Ang 06 Gnatadharma Sutra

Author(s): Jambuvijay, Dharmachandvijay
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 26

ATMA VALLABH SANSKRITI MANDIR
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pillarless basement roof, all laid in stone, wherein not a single ounce of steel has been used. It is indeed a feature of ancient Jain architectural tradition, practised by the Sompura Shilpis and Vastukaras, who have not only inherited this knowledge and skill from their founding fathers, but have rather improved upon the same. This provides a great theme for study to the students of Art and Architecture.
Chaturmukha Temple
The rear portion of the stone structure has been raised by another 12 feet and it thus takes on the plan of a well designed Chaturmukha Jain Temple. Its foundation stone was laid on 21-2-1980. Two marble clad stairs open into the twin 'Rang Mandapas' in the North and the South of the Garbha-Griha (Sanctum Sanctorum). Four indentical marble idols of Jain Tirthankaras, with eyes half open, in padmasana, one each facing the four cardinal directions, i.e. North, South, East and West (Chaturmukh) chiselled by master craftsmen, have been installed on the High Altar with Bhagwan Vasupujya as the presiding Deity (Mool Nayak). Bhagwan Adinath, Muni Suvrat Swami and Jag Vallabh Parshvanath are the other 3 Deities that adorn the Altar. After the name of the Mool Nayak, the temple has been designated as 'Bhagwan Vasupujya Mandir'. Its dome-like roof is also capped with a "Samaran'. The rear (West side) elevation of this temple is both sublime and imposing. The affairs of the Temple are being managed by Bhagwan Vasupuiya Jain Swetamber Mandir Trust.
Institute of Indology
Adjacent to the main building, there stands in the West, a modern structure with an equally large basement to accommodate the rich Reference Library comprising published works and hand-written manuscripts on Jainism and related fields of Indology. Some of the manuscripts are rare and richly illustrated. The collection (granth bhandar) of the Gurukul left in a properly secured cellar at Gujranwala in Pakistan, at the time of the partition of the country, has since been retrieved through the good offices of Seth Kastur bhai Lalbhai and formally handed over to the Smarak Trust. An Institute for research in various branches of Indian Culture under the banner of 'Bhogilal Leherchand Institute of Indology' is housed therein, since 1984. This Institute is making full use of the said library. Scholars-Indian and foreign, come in pursuit of their research work. Some of them even reside here for the purpose. A number of seminars have already been held on a variety of subjects. A mini museum is attached to the Institute wherein illustrated manuscripts are displayed alongwith Icons and Bronzes.