Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 142

120
Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
uninteresting.
retouched possibly in the Mughal period. The jangha As regards the date, the temple was probably built is divided into two plain registers by a floral median in the mid-10th century A.D.
band and is topped by a band of saw-tooth pattern. The LODRAVA
udgama, square bharani with foliage clasps, two kapotas Lodravā, the capital of the Bhattis in the medieval with intervening ratna-pattikā and eave, though period, lies a few miles north-west of Jaisalmer in retouched, seem to be original. The sikhara is a late Rajasthan. It had an old Jaina temple which was medieval erection. The doorframe of the garbhagrha abandoned by the Jainas after its spoliation by the consists of seven jambs represented by patra, rūpa, Muslim invaders. In the 15th century and subsequently rūpastambha, rupa, malā, khalvasākha adorned with in the 17th century the temple was restored and since lotus petals, and a thin vyālašākhā respectively. The then it is in worship.
doorsill has a circular mandāraka in the centre and a This east-facing temple (Fig. 70) consists of a projecting grăsa on its each side. The lintel carrying sanctum enclosed by an ambulatory, a gūdhamandapa Jina figures is of late medieval period. and a porch, and measures 73 ft. by 40 ft. in all. The The porch in front of the garbhagrha consists of sanctum and the güdhamandapa have an equal width; two ornate pillars and two bhadraka pilasters, supporting they also are tri-anga on plan consisting of bhadra, a carved ceiling. The pillars have a moulded base of pratiratha and karņa; the angas are broken into three khura, kumbha adorned with half lotuses, kalasa, or five planes; and the bhadras have balconied windows. antarapatta and kapota; their shaft successively shows
The restored exterior pitha of the sanctum is built a plain cubical section, a narrow octagonal part decorated up in two series. The lower pitha is higher and consists with half lotuses, a circular fluted section adorned with of a bhitta, khura, kumbha decorated with caitya- chain-and-bells and serpents, fine ghatapallava, a square gavākşas, kalasa, narrow antarapatta, thin kapota bearing belt decorated with creepers, and an octagonal section decoration of half diamond-and-gavāksa and a pattikā embellished with a jewelled band and grăsapatti; and adorned with floral scrolls. The shorter upper pitha is the capital has a circular ribbed bharani surmounted made up of such mouldings as jādyakumbha ornamented by four-armed double-roll brackets and square blocks with caitya-gavākşas, kumuda, antarapatta carved with carved with diamonds. The pilasters have simplified kuñjarāksas and usual kapota, the last three being thin. decoration. The vedikā, asanapatta and the sloping grilles applied. The interior of the güdhamandapa shows an throughout the building seem to belong to the Mughal octagonal arrangement of eight pillars in the central period. The original wall enclosing the ambulatory nave and twelve pilasters of late date in the surrounding passage was rather thick and had figure sculptures. aisle. The nave pillars support a large carved domical
The inner garbhagyha, also tri-ariga on plan, stands ceiling of the 15th century A.D. The pillars correspond with a porch on a moulded pitha consisting of a small to those of the porch but here they are taller, the bhitta, jadyakumbha adorned with lotus leaves, kumuda, kumbha bears flamboyant pattern in semi-circles and antarapatta embellished with kuñjaräksas, thin kapota the brackets of the capitals are borne by bhāraputrakas. and grāsapatti. The vedibandha above the pitha has the The architraves spanned across the pillars show a fullusual five mouldings of khura, kumbha, kalasa, blown lotus with two rows of petals in the centre of antarapatta and kapota having plain surface, sculptured their underside, while their side face depicts a figure niches, uncarved surface, kunjarākṣas and gavākşas of grāsa spewing creepers in the lower fascia and palmrespectively. The mañcika and the jangha have been leaves in the upper. The aisle ceilings also belong to
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