Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 181

Jaina Temple Architecture: North India
ceilings in the north-west and north-east corners are slightly rectangular on plan, but their space is reduced to a square by a framework of stone slabs decorated with human couple, dancers and musicians, Kinnara, goose, elephant, crocodile etc. Each ceiling consists of three circular courses and a circular pendant made up of eight-foil kola and a staminal tube clasped by two rows of petals. The first course depicts garland loops on the inner face and a pair of confronting elephants on each corner, the second is karṇadardarika and the third is gajatālu. Square on plan the ceiling just above the staircase consists of three circular courses and a large pendant of padmašila. The inner face of the first course shows a band of jasmin flowers, while its underside on four corners bears images of Rohiņi, Sarasvati, Cakreśvarī and Vairoṭya, all four-armed and seated in lalitasana. The second is karṇadardarikā and the third is decorated with geese. The pendant is composed of twelve-, eight-, six- and quatre-foil pointed kolas with a flower bud on the tip. The ceiling near the gudhamandapa door is similar to the preceding one, but it is shorter in size and shows images of Dikpālas (Agni, Kubera, Yama and Nirṛti) on the four corners. The two ornamental niches flanking the gudhamandapa front door here also are empty.
The rangamaṇḍapa shows eight ornate pillars which, together with four pillars of the mukhamandapa, form a slightly rectangular central nave and two side aisles. Six of these pillars are of the octagonal order and two central pillars on the front belong to square variety. To give an additional height to the roof they are provided with attic pillars. Eight of these pillars, i.e. two central pillars on each side, form an octagon and support a big domical ceiling on an octagonal frame of architraves decorated with two ornamental bands of lotus scrolls and creepers, and a lotus medallion in the centre of their underside. In order to strengthen the dome a beautiful cusped arch has been inserted between the central pair of pillars on each side. The dome (Pl. 63) consists of eight circular courses and a circular
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pendant. The first course is decorated with figures of Jaina goddesses alternating with rosettes. The second is karṇadardarika. The third is adorned with lozengeshaped flowers. The fourth is gajatālu. The remaining four courses consist of twenty-eight-foil, twenty-fourfoil, twenty four-lobed-foil and sixteen four-lobed-foil of kolas respectively. The pendant consists of twelve-, eight- and quatre-foil kolas with a long staminal tube clasped by a band of dancers and musicians. From the third course project out sixteen bracket figures of Vidyadharas. At each of the basal corners is shown a large kirttimukha in high relief. The broader soffits left out at the north and south ends depict very fine and large creepers.
Each of the side aisles of the rangamandapa is divided into seven bays, six of which on each side have fine samatala ceilings. The carvings of these ceilings include Pañcakalyaṇaka scenes of Adinatha, Śantinātha, Neminatha, Parsvanatha and Mahāvīra, Samavasaraṇa scene, a complete set of sixteen four-armed lalitasana Vidyadevis with Parsvanatha as central figure, figures of dancers, musicians, animals, horse-riders, elephants with drivers etc. One of the ceilings on the west also depicts Gomukha and Cakreśvari, the Yakṣa and Yakṣi of Ṛṣabhanatha to whom this temple originally was dedicated. Here the rangamaṇḍapa floor on the north end bears a rotating svastika symbol.
The devakulikäs with single or double arcade of pillars have each a single-sakha door adorned with scrolls or diamonds and beads. The doorsill shows an inverted crescent with foliage in the centre and a lotus medallion on each side of it. At the base of the jamb is a female carrying water vessel. The door-lintel depicts a Jina as crest image. All the pillars are of simple octagonal order and the pilasters flanking the doors are five-faceted. Each bay carries a ceiling formed by cutting off the corners. The central stone in each ceiling depicts a full-blown lotus flower. The devakulikās towards the rangamandapa are shaded by an overhanging eave-cornice. They are dedicated to Tirthankaras whose