Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 116

Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
upper section and two minor tulāpīthas underneath, the shows a śukanāsa which has lost its crowning figure lower decorated with lotus buds. The basement niches, of lion. The roofs alongwith internal ceilings of the which are taller on the larger projections, are each antarala, mandapa and entrance porch have all badly capped by a three-tiered pediment of caitya-gavākşas damaged, but from what has survived it appears that and are mostly empty now, but from the fragmentary they were composed of a series of horizontal tiers remains of images in some niches it appears that they adorned with caitya-gavākşas alternating with recessed originally had the multi-armed figures of Jaina goddesses. courses decorated with diamonds. The front roof between The wall niches occurring on the smaller projections the two eastern balcony-projections shows on proper are each crowned by a tall pediment decorated with right a niche containing a figure of eight-armed a lattice of caitya-gaväksas. These niches and the recesses Cakreśvari with two female attendants, flanked by two carry multi-armed figures of Jaina Yakşas and Yaksis more niches harbouring seated Jina and Ambikā identifiable with Dharanendra, Padmavati etc. The respectively. The roof on the corresponding left side balconied windows of the wall, which are almost has an exact replica of what we have just noticed. decorative, consists of a blind balustrade (vedikā or The entrance porch is rectangular on plan consisting rājasenaka), projected broad band, asanapatta and of four ornate pillars supporting a ceiling decorated with kakṣāsana. The balustrade is decorated with two rows an oval-shaped quatrefoil kola with a circular one at of framed niches alternating with recesses relieved with the centre (Pl. 24). All the four pillars are alike and chequer pattern. The projected band is adorned with stand on a square moulded base with a male or female foliate scrolls and has two tiny tulāpīthas underneath, figure in a niche on each face, represented as dancing, the lower adorned with lotus buds. The asanapatta is or carrying musical instruments or umbrella. The shaft decorated with scrolls and surmounted by a frieze of is square below and above showing a pot-and-foliage lotus petals. The kaksäsana shows vertical stripes of in high relief, while its middle tall section displays lotus scrolls alternated by three shafts of beaded pattern. sixteen-sided fluting decorated on some facets with The roof of the balcony is carried by two ornate short chain-and-bells suspended from a grāsapatti. Above this pillars resting on the asanapatta. The pillars support occur a flattened circular cushion with four circular lintel and architrave, each decorated with chequer pattern projections, a square block decorated with kirttimukhas and a frieze of kirttimukhas and crowned by a below and scrolls above, a flat circular cogged disc, magnificent pediment of three-tiered large caitya- and a square block adorned with foliage. The capital gavākṣa. The wall is surmounted by an usual kapota consists of two square cushions of ribbed pattern and and a recessed course decorated with half diamonds. four-armed curved brackets with adoring nägas between
The navāndaka (nine turrets) Sikhara of the sanctum them. The pillars support lintel and architrave decorated is pañcaratha marked by seven stages of bhümi-amalakas, with four alternate bands of miniature rathikäs and and is clustered around by two rows of karmaśrngas chequer pattern. (two over each karna offset) and by eight rows of small The mandapa is entered through a large and rathikās divided into two groups of five and three by elaborate pañcaśākhā doorway consisting of patravalli an usual kapota and ribbed awning over each bhadra. (scrolls), nāgapāśa (entwined snakes), mithuna, stambha, The offsets of the Sikhara extend well above the shoulder and a jamb forming the bevelled surround of the doorway course, almost touching the large crowning amalaka. and embellished with patravalli. At the base of jambs The whole of the Sikhara is enmeshed with a lattice stand the river-goddesses Gangā on proper right and of caitya-gavākşas. The front facade of the sikhara Yamunā on proper left, with two female attendants and
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