Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 161

Jaina Temple Architecture : North India
139
that it is very hard to render a graphic picture of it. This is one of the best ceilings of the domical order.
On the front and lateral sides the rangamandapa is attached to the devekulikās by a pillared portico of six bays formed by a row of four pillars. Two of these pillars are of the square order and the rest belong to octagonal order, all provided with attic system and having been well wrought. Of the six ceilings in the west or front portico three are relieved with jasmine flowers, one consists of an ornate dome and two depict a big lotus flower or bud. Three of the six ceilings in the north portico are domical in shape and consist of ornate circular and octagonal courses, while the other three depict a mono-form kola, lotus petal-and-bud ornament in reverse order, and a series of twenty-six lumäs respectively. Two of the six ceilings in the south portico are domical consisting of four or six ornamental courses and a circular pendant. One ceiling is flat and depicts on its flat surface twelve-foil larger, twelve-foil smaller and six-foil pointed kolas in three concentric circles. This is one of the best ceilings of this temple. Another flat ceiling shows in five concentric squares sixteen lūmās in bold relief on the outer square and birth-rites of Lord Krsna on the inner ones. This is one of the finest ceilings in so far as the lūmās are concerned. In one ceiling nine lūmās are shown in three lines of three each, each consisting of a quatrefoil kola. The remaining ceiling is also flat and displays in four concentric squares varied forms of kola.
The devakulikās, forty-eight in number, are screened by two rows of pillars forming thus two bays in front of each cell, but those near the gūdhamandapa being recessed back are confronted with one row of pillars only. All the pillars are of simple octagonal order with moulded base, three-sectioned shaft and roll-bracket capital. The five-faceted pilasters are like the pillars, The architraves carried by the columns are similar to those of the rangamandapa. Their doors consist of one or two jambs, both decorated with lotus scrolls, but in one instance (devakulikā No. 12) the outer jamb is
treated like an ornate column. The sill and lintel of doors are similar to those of the sanctum. All the bays contain ornate ceilings representing varieties of lūmās, figural, floral, and geometrical patterns, auspicious events of the life of Neminātha, and large-sized images of Jaina goddesses. The cells are dedicated to Jinas whose images were generally installed during subsequent repairs of the temple. The devekulikās are shaded towards the courtyard by a corrugated eave-cornice. Above the cornice are inserted many foliated gargoyles.
The hastiśālā is a rectangular hall occupying the entire space of the back side. Its flat roof is borne by two rows of eleven pillars each. All the pillars are of the octagonal order, resembling those of the devakulikās. Between the front row of pillars are fitted perforated grilles cut up with geometrical and floral designs. The hastiśālā has three entrance doors, one in the centre and one on each end. In the centre of the hall is a magnificent image of Adinātha seated on a navaratha pedestal. In front of him is a triratha Meru tower completed in three storeys, each accommodating a Jina image on each of its four faces. On two sides of the tower are ten gigantic elephants with driver and its lord, each being carved in the round with metallic finish. The back wall of the hastišala carries ten sculptural panels containing portrait sculptures of Jaina teachers, Tejapāla and other members of his family.
The temple is known to have been constructed by Minister Tejapāla in A.D. 1231 for the spiritual merits of his wife Anupamādevi and son Lāvanyasimha, spending twelve crore fifty lakhs. The architect of the temple was Sobhanadeva who was a great artist of his time. JHALRAPATAN
Jhalrapatan is an old town situated in the Jhalawar district of Rajasthan. In the town is a Jaina temple dedicated to Sāntinātha. It is built of sandstone and faces east. The temple consists of a sanctum, antarāla, gūdhamandapa and an entrance porch. Of these the sanctum and antarāla are original, but the other two
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