Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 199

Jaina Temple Architecture : North India
177
and pratiratha into five planes each. Between the angas are salilāntaras and the salilāntaras between the offsets contain minor projected corners. The karma and pratiratha are equilateral and of the same proportion, while the bhadras are comparatively wider. Two offsets on each side on the front are transmuted in a buffer wall to form antarāla that separates the gūdhamandapa from the sanctum.
In elevation the sanctum shows pītha, vedibandha, jarighā, varandikā and Sikhara. The pitha consists of five courses of two bhittas (the lower being plain and the upper decorated with half-diamonds), jādyakumbha incised with lotus leaves, karnikā and grāsapatti. The vedībandha is made up of five usual courses of khura, kumbha bearing figure sculptures on the body and foliage on the shoulder, kalasa embellished with beaded garland and rosette design, antarapatta, and kapota decorated with caitya-gavākṣa pattern. The janghā, supported by a mañcikā, carries standing figure sculptures, each topped by a pediment of caitya-gavākṣa. Above the wall comes a recessed fillet and a round bharaṇi clasped by drooping foliage. The varandikā consists of two kapotas and a ribbed awning. The śikhara is of the anekandaka class and shows a lattice of caitya-gavāksas. At the base of the sikhara, in cardinal directions, are framed figure sculptures. The enshrined image inside the sanctum was not found when the temple was first surveyed.
The gūdhamandapa is caturanga on plan with their corners indented into several planes. It shares its pītha and wall with the sanctum but the portion above that has collapsed. The interior shows an octagonal arrangement of eight octagonal pillars attached at eight angles of the wall. These form a square nave with projecting angle at each of the four corners; to this a long aisle is added on each side. By this device the intercolumniation between the corner pillars is less than that on the sides. The pillars and architraves are elaborately carved.
The mukhamandapa is rectangular on plan,
probably divided into six bays by ten square pillars and two pilasters arranged in three lines of four each. The columns and architraves here also are richly carved. On each side of the entrance to the gūdhamandapa is a large niche facing front.
On plan and elevation its sanctum has close resemblance with the Neminātha temple at Kumbharia, but in architectural and ornamental details it shows some advancement on the latter and seems to be a contemporary of the Rudramahālaya at Siddhapur built by Caulukya king Siddharāja in c. A.D. 1140. The general form and design of this temple also establish its contemporaneity with the Navalakha at the same site which was also built about the same time. Therefore, this Jaina temple may have been erected some time in the second quarter of the 12th century A.D. SATRUNJAYA
Satruñjaya, near Palitana in Gujarat, is one of the holiest hills of the Jainas. From the foot of the hill a pathway set up with steps leads to the top of the hill which consists of two ridges with a shallow valley between. The ridges (nearly 1140 ft. east-west in length) and the valley are adorned with numerous Jaina temples (Pl. 74) of the Svetāmbara sect. They are built at different periods of time and surrounded by battlemented walls fitted for defence. The temples again are divided into separate enclosures called turkas, each containing one principal shrine with varying number of smaller ones. Each of these turkas is protected by strong gates and walls. There are in all seven turkas (Narasi Keśavaji, Caumukha or Kharataravasahi, Chīpāvasahi, Sākaravasahi, Ujamabäivasahi, Hemābhāivasahi and Premabhāīvasahi) on the northern summit, two (Motiśāha and Bālābhāivasahī) in the valley, and two (Vimalavasahi and Adiśvara) on the southern summit. Of all the shrines standing in the various turkas at Satruñjaya, only the Adinātha shrine in the Adinātha tunka comes under our reference.
Adinātha Temple - The enclosure of Adinatha is the most sacred spot on this hill. The principal shrine
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