Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 154

132
Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
face on the east.
The sanctum is tri-anga on plan, the bhadra offset being the longest and the pratiratha the shortest. An offset flanked by recesses separates the sanctum from the gūdhamandapa. In elevation it shows five usual divisions. The pitha consists of four courses of bhitta, jādyakumbha, karnikā, and pattikā and is plain. The vedibandha consists of five usual courses of khura, kumbha inset with half diamonds, kalaša, antarapatta, and kapota adorned with caitya-gavākşas. The janghā- wall, divided into two halves by a plain median band, is also plain but each cardinal offset carries a projecting niche with an image of Jina seated in meditation. The varandikā consists of two usual kapotas. The pyramidal roof, instead of curvilinear sikhara, of the sanctum is composed of nine horizontal tiers and has a fluted bell with kalaśa and bījapūraka on the top. At the base of the roof are sculptured niches containing images of standing Jinas. The whole of the exterior is now plastered up with white lime. The dvi-sakhā door of the sanctum consists of patra (scroll) and stambha (pillar). The door- still shows a semi-circular projection with stemmed lotus in the centre, a kirttimukha on each side of it, and diamonds on either end. The door-lintel continues the scroll-band of the jamb and has a Jina figure on the crest. In front of the door is a fine moonstone. Inside the sanctum is a pañcatirthi (an image with five Jina images) image of Adinatha installed in A.D. 1322 when the temple had been repaired. In the sanctum is also placed a statue of Hiravijayasūri dated in A.D. 1604. The narrow wall between the sanctum and the gūdhamandapa contains two niches with images of Jina.
The exterior of the gūdhamandapa is similar to that of the sanctum, but it is dvi-anga on plan and is entered through an ornate porch from the lateral sides as well. Each of the lateral porches is square on plan and rests on a pitha which is but the continuum of the mukhamandapa. It is reached from the courtyard by a flight of four steps cut across the pītha. It consists of two ornate pillars and two five-faceted pilasters and has
a domical ceiling made up of one octagonal and six circular courses, all having been carved. Each of the three entrance doors, of which the front door is well preserved, consists of six jambs of patra, rūpa, again rūpa, rūpastambha, rūpa and again rūpa. The lower part of jambs is occupied by a four-armed standing goddess with two cauri-bearers and a female carrying water pot, while the part above successively shows five images of lalitäsana goddesses, each accompanied by four female attendants. The doorsill shows four moulded courses on the lower section, while its upper section displays a semi-circular projection with stemmed lotus in the centre, a kirttimukha on each side of it and a niche containing an image of Sarvānubhūti on extreme right and that of Ambikä on extreme left. The lintel is divided into two registers. The lower register shows ghatapallava atop the jambs, while the space in between them is filled with the scroll-band of the inner jamb and a row of hovering figures of Mālädharas facing the crest image which represents a goddess mounting a lion. The upper register carries four images of goddesses and one image of Pārsvanātha (central), each accompanied by the attendant figures.
The interior of the square güdhamandapa shows an arrangement of eight ornate pilasters supporting a simple dome on an octagonal frame of carved architraves. There are two standing images of Pārsvanātha dated in A.D. 1351 and five images of lay-worshippers dated in A.D. 1341.
The mukhamandapa in front of the gūdhamandapa is divided into nine bays by ten pillars and two pilasters of its own and four rear pillars of the rangamandapa, all arranged in four lines of four each. It is landed up from the rangamandapa by three stairways, each flanked by walking elephants and having been stepped up by a moonstone. Its pītha on the lateral sides is moulded with five courses of bhitta decorated with diamonds, deep fillet adorned with diamonds, projected narrow band, gräsapatti and narathara. The pitha below each pillar has been turned into a pañcaratha projection,
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