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શ્રી રત્નસાગરસૂરિ
high. Its workmanship is of a superior order and I have, therefore, added it to the number. The drawing (Vide drawing No. 3. App. II'. of course can not be expected to give details; it only shows the outjines. It was built by natives of Kachh under the superintendence of Salat Nathu (सलाट नथु) of Sabharai (साभराइ).
The entrance of the first courtyard, which is surrounded by the buildings of the priests, is very richly carved, and has a corridor of three beautiful semi-circular cusped arches with struts, issuing from the mouths of elephants. On the second storey, supported by of the the arches are three temples, richly carved, the shafts of the columns containing figures of men in various costumes, and animals of various sorts in different attitudes. The eaves are supported by female musicians playing upon the fiddle, lyre, drum, or kartal (Frata) or telling beads. The entrance is 6 feet wide and 12 feet high to the capital. The whole is elegantly designed, and has a magni. ficent effect.
Entering the gate, we approach in view of a beautiful two storeyed temple, built in another courtyard, on a stylobate or plaltírom 6 feet and 9 inches high and approached by 15 steps. The porch is two storeyed and the arches semi-circular and cusped. and supported by trunks of three elephants on each side. The eaves are supported on the heads of female guards armed with swords and shields.
The second porch is 18 feet 9 inches square, surrounded by aisles or verandahs on all sides, and paved with well-polished white and black marble. There are 22 pilasters and 16 pillars. The dome is supported on 8 pillars with cusped arches and struts. The Jadeja ruler of the town, considering that the temple, if raised high, would over look his Zenana, had limited its height, and so the dome was originally desig. ned on the first storey only. But subsequently the Vaniyas having agreed to raise the castle walls of the Jadeja's residenc?, permission was given; when the second storey, on pillars with arches with pavements similar to what is seen below, was built. In the middle of the pavements are squares, flowers, sathiyas (ATT), circles, and rosettes of various designs and patterns made on black and yellow grounds. of marble resembling mosaic work, most skilfuily executed.
Shree Sudhammaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
