Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 127

Jaina Temple Architecture : North India
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registers. The lower register depicts in niches a seated image of eight-armed Cakreśvari in the centre and a seated Jina figure on either end, while the intervening space on her right is filled with figures of Navagrahas and that on her left with bull-faced Astavasus. The upper register shows sixteen auspicious symbols - 1. Airāvata elephant, 2. bull, 3. rampant lion, 4. Sridevi, 5. garland enclosing a kirttimukha, 6. full moon with an hare in the centre, 7. Sun-god, 8. a pair of fish, 9. a pair of jar, 10. celestial lake, 11. agitated sea, 12. lion throne, 13. Vimäna, 14. nāga couple, 15. heap of jewels, and 16. seated Agni with flames issuing from his shoulder - seen in dream by Jina's mother at the time of conception. The lower part of the door jambs shows Gangā on proper right and Yamunā on proper left, both accompanied by female cauri-bearers. The river goddesses appear on the inner jambs, while the central and outer ones on each side are occupied by two dvārapālas. The doorsill shows lotus scrolls on the central projection, a two-armed figure of Sarasvati on each side of it, and three water divinities, riding on karimakara and holding water pot, on either end. Below the river goddesses occur gajaśārdūlas and below the dvärapālas are scenes of dance and music.
The central square bay of the mahamandapa consists of four ornate pillars and a ceiling supported by them on a square frame of architraves. The pillars are very similar to those of the ardhamandapa. The architraves here also are divided into three fasciae, the lower decorated with intersecting garland loops, the middle adorned with triangles, and the upper left plain. The ceiling is flat and shows a large lotus flower with four rows of petals in the centre. The flower is displayed in a square compartment bordered by three decorative bands of scrolls, rosettes and scrolls.
On sculptural and architectural grounds the temple is datable to the end of the 10th century A.D. UN
Un is a holy Jaina place in the Khargon district of Madhya Pradesh. In the northern extremity of Un
is a Jaina temple which is called Caubārā Derā II by the local people. The temple is located in the heart of the Mālavā region.
Caubārā Derä II - Built of sandstone and facing north the temple is laid out on a high natural ground. It consists of a sanctum, antarala, gudhamandapa with lateral entrance porches, mukhamandapa and an entrance porch. The entire temple is in a very ruinous condition.
The sanctum is tri-anga on plan comprising bhadra, pratiratha and karņa, the bhadra having five planes and the other two, three planes each. Between the angas are recesses reinforced by konikäs, each chamfered into three corners. The pitha of the sanctum consists of a plain bhitta, short khura-kumbha decorated with carved half diamonds, minor torus, ratnapatta, jädyakumbha carrying two decorative bands of lotus petals and diamonds on the lower section, karņikā, grāsapatti, gajathara and narathara. The vedibandha of the janghawall consists of five usual courses of khura, tall kumbha, kalaša, antarapata and kapota. The kumbha is very ornate as it shows seated figures of Yaksis and Vidyādevis in niches on the central facets, diamondand bead on the lower section, a narrow plain band on the upper section and stencilled foliage on the shoulder. The kapota is also ornate as it depicts caitya-gavāksas above and gagārakas below. The jangha, borne by mañcika with circular pendants underneath, is adorned with a row of standing framed figures of Dikpālas on the karmas, Jaina divinities (now missing) in sunk niches on the bhadras, and Jaina divinities and apsarases on the pratirathas. The jangha figures are crowned by udgama-pediments. Above the pediment occur the round bharani with foliage clasps, kapota and ribbed awning. The superstructure of the sanctum as well as other compartments has disappeared.
The doorway of the sanctum is similar to that of the gūdhamandapa to be described below. The interior of the sanctum measuring eight feet square shows four plain octagonal pilasters supporting a plain corbelled ceiling. The enshrined image of śāntinātha dated in
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