Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain, Others
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 110

Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
at some places only. The whole of the upper part, including the overhanging cornice, short parapet and the chatri-pavilion on the roof, is modern. The three largesized outside shallow niches, which at once remind us of similar ones found in the Daśavatāra temple there, have each a triśākhā doorframe with Ganga-Yamunā figures at the base. Each niche contains images of a seated Jina between two standing ones.
The entrance porch shows two widely-spaced pillars and two pilasters in the front and four pilasters aligned with them at the back. They are all of the square order and are well-carved. Their moulded base is composed of khura, kumbha, kalasa and patřikā, and carries sculptured niches on the four faces; the fluted shaft, with suspended bells in alternate flutes, rests on gorgeous ghatapallava and is also surmounted by a fine ghatapallava capital bearing palmette-brackets.
The doorway of the assembly hall consists of four jambs of patra, nāga, rupa and padma adorned with scrolls, snakes in thin band, Jinas and lotus petals in bevelled surround respectively. The door-lintel continues the decorative bands of all the four jambs and has a seated Jina on the lalāța. The lower part of the doorjambs is occupied by standing images of Ganga and Yamunā with attendant figures. The doorsill shows a semicircular projection carved with lotus scrolls in the centre, a grasamukha or mithuna on each side of it, and a gladiator fighting a lion on either extremity.
The interior of the assembly hall shows four pillars in the square central nave and twelve pilasters on the periphery, all of the square variety. The base of the pillars is similar to that of the porch but shows a caitya- gavāksa ornament instead of the sculptured niche; the shaft is plain below and carries decorations of grāsamukha or half lotus, ghatapallava, fluted vase and a square block with foliate swirls above; and the capital has two cushion-shaped square āmalakas surmounted by roll-brackets. The pilasters are similar to the pillars, but the shaft shows lotus medallions with a short octagonal section.
The doorframes of the three inner shrines are plain and simple. In the east shrine is installed an excellent image of Jina seated on a lion throne; he is canopied overhead by a three-tiered parasol and caitya-tree flanked on each side by a couple of Mālädharas and a lustrating elephant. The image is framed between two ornate square pilasters with a cauri-bearer on each side and a makara-torana joining them above.
On stylistic grounds the temple is placed in the third quarter of the gih century A.D.
Temple 16 - This west-facing temple consists of an oblong mandapa and an entrance porch with a pavilion above. The mandapa shows a row of four pillars in the middle and fourteen pilasters on the periphery. The doorway is ornate. Inside the mandapa are eight seated and sixteen standing images of Jinas and a sculpture of goddess Ambikā.
Temple 17 - This temple with westerly orientation consists of a square mandapa and a verandah with four pillars. The mandapa has four pillars in the nave and twelve pilasters on the periphery. The doorframe is plain. It contains twenty-two standing and seated Jina figures.
Temple 18 – This south-facing temple consists of a small sanctum, mandapa, verandah, and later built low terrace with two free-standing carved pillars. The temple stands on a moulded pītha; its walls are flat and plain; and there is a sikhara over the sanctum and a flat roof on the mandapa.
The verandah has a row of four ghatapallava pillars and seven Jina images. The door of the mandapa is very ornate. The mandapa has four pillars in the nave and twelve pilasters on the periphery; there are eleven seated and eight standing Jina sculptures. The doorway of the sanctum is low but ornate and bears fine figures of Ganga and Yamunā. Inside the sanctum is installed a large image of standing Jina.
Temple 19 - It consists of an oblong mandapa and a verandah and faces south, both standing on a very low pitha. The flat roof of the verandah rests on
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