Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 166

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Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
tri-anga on plan and have three horizontal divisions across the elevation. The pitha consists of a bhitta, a short jäḍyakumbha decorated with caitya-gaväkṣa pattern and a plain fillet. The vedībandha has five courses of khura, kumbha bearing caitya-gavākṣa pattern on the central offsets, kalasa, antarapatta adorned with stepped diamonds, and kapota decorated with caitya-gavakṣa device. The jangha-wall is plain but for sculptured niches on the central offsets and a grasapaṭṭī on the top. The two niches in the southern cell contain fourarmed images of Cakreśvari (south) and Ambika (east), and those in the northern cell accommodate Brahmaśanti (east) and a mutilated unidentified figure (north).
As regards the date of the temple as it now stands, it is not a work of one period but has gone under repairs more than once. The pitha, vedībandha and catuśśākhā doorframe of the sanctum and the two shrine-cells were probably built in the 10th century A.D. and the other parts in the 15th century or even later.
Mahavira Temple It consists of a sanctum, güdhamandapa, mukhamandapa and rangamandapa, the whole surrounded by a series of fifty-one devakulikās. Like the Adinatha temple it also has heavily suffered from restoration work; and its floor having been raised during restoration, the pitha has almost embedded in the ground.
The sanctum is tri-anga on plan, the karna being broken into five planes, and the bhadra and the pratiratha into three planes each with minor projected corners between. Of the pitha only jadyakumbha and fillet are exposed. The vedībandha of the wall shows khura, kumbha decorated with stylised half diamonds, kalasa, antarapatta adorned with diamonds and dentils, and kapota decorated with caitya-gavākṣa pattern. The jangha wall, supported by a mañcikā, is divided into two halves by a band of garland loops and surmounted by a band of kirttimukhas alternating with stylised tassels. The jangha of each bhadra carries a sunk niche that is vacant now. The varandika consists of a kapota and a ribbed awning. The sanctum is crowned by an anekaṇḍaka
sikhara. At present, the garbhagṛha is enclosed by an inner ambulatory, but originally it would not have contained it because there is no provision for ventilation in the outer wall. Inside the sanctum is worshipped an image of Mahāvīra sitting in meditation.
The gudhamandapa is a square pillared hall with front and lateral entrances. It continues the pitha and wall lineaments of the sanctum and is covered by nine ornate ceilings. Three of these ceilings are domical, while the other six are made by cutting off the corners, comprising three tiers of nine stones each, depicting kirttimukha on each triangular stone and a lotus flower on the central stone. The domical ceilings are composed of five or six courses, the first being octagonal and the rest circular. The octagonal course shows decorations of half lotuses on the inner face and a kirttimukha at each corner on the underside. The second is karṇadardarikā. The third is decorated with a band of geese or diamonds. The fourth consists of gajatālu. The fifth has an eight-foil kola. Where there are six courses, one more course of gajatālu has been added immediately after the fourth course. From the centre of each domical ceiling hangs down a pendant made up of quatrefoil or eight-foil kola.
The mukhamandapa is divided into six bays and is approached from the rangamandapa by one step only. The rangamandapa is entered through an entrance porch from the front and is covered by a domed roof. Internally, both these chambers have been fully painted, concealing thus their original form.
It is very difficult to assign a perfect date to this temple, because it is a conglomeration of different periods. Its walls appear to belong to 12th-13th century A.D., whereas the spire and some other parts belong to the 15th century A.D.
THAN
Than is situated about one and a half miles north of Than Railway Station in the Surendranagar district of Gujarat. It is a Hindu site sacred to Trinetreśvara Mahadeva whose temple has been built and is still in