Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 214

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Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
rulers also were at war with the Calukyas. Parameśvara- varman suffered even a defeat at the hands of the Ganga king Bhūvikrama. These two rulers were staunch Saiva and hence no scope for Jaina activity.
Parameśvaravarman I was succeeded by his son Narasimhavarman II Rājasimha (A.D. 700-728) whose reign being comparatively peaceful sees brisk building activity in the field of structural temples. This is also attested to by a Jaina temple to Candraprabha at Tirupparuttikunram, Jinakañci, built during his reign.
After Rājasimha the Pallavas continued their rule in Tondainādu up to the end of the 9th century A.D. but, owing to the prominent position of Saivism and Vaisnavism, no Jaina temple was built. Similar is the position of Jainism in the time of the Colas and the Pandyas who ruled from Tanjaur and Madura after the Pallavas. Architectural Features
The Jaina temples south of the Vindhya mountain are characterised by a storeyed sanctum with cupola top, a mode of temple-style called Dravida in architectural treatise. In the simplest form of their ground plan they show a square vimāna-sanctum with or without a covered ambulatory (pradaksiņăpatha) around it, and an ardhamandapa approached from the ground by a stairway having elephant banister. In the larger conception the vimāna is confronted by an antarāla-vestibule followed in its turn by a gudhamandapa or mahāmaņdapa (closed hall), larger than the vimāna, and a rangamandapa or mukhamandapa (open pillared hall). The presence of gūdhamandapa and rangamandapa solely depends upon the need of the temple or the choice of the architect as some temples have both the halls and some others possess either of the two. Where there is a rangamandapa it is landed up from the ground by an usual staircase, and where there is a predilection for gūdhamandapa it is entered through an entrance porch, preferably from the front side, but there are temples which have entrances on the front as well as lateral sides. The Jaina temple at Hangal, which has only the rangamandapa, not the
gudhamandapa, in front of vimana's antarala, has entrances on all the three sides of the rangamandapa. In some Jaina temples the antarala is conspicuous by its absence.
Apart from having single vimāna in their layout the Jaina temples of South India possess double, triple and five-sancta vimāna with a common gūdhamandapa. in the juxtaposed double shrine of the Caranti-matha at Aihole each vimāna has its own gūdhamandapa, though the mukhamandapa in these shrines is commonly disposed. In the triple shrine the three vimānas stand juxtaposed at the back (Candragupta-basadi at Sravanabelagola) or on the three sides of the gūdhamandapa (the triple shrine near Virupaksa at Aihole and Harasur), the fourth side providing access to it. In the five-sancta temple three vimănas are placed juxtaposed behind the rear side of the gudhamandpa and two vimänas are placed on its lateral sides (Pañcalingesvara temple at Huli and Sankha-basadi at Lakşmeśvara). In another temple the lateral shrines are detached from the güdhamandapa (Pancaküța temple at Kambadahalli); in the third one the five vimänas are put up juxtaposed on the rear side of an oblong gūdhamandapa (Pancakūta-bastiat Humca); in the fourth one the three vimānas are disposed along the three sides of the gūdhamandapa and two on the lateral sides of a large pillared mandapa built in the front (Anantanāthabasadi at Lakşmeśvara).
Some Jaina temples have individual features of the plan. The Jaina temple at Ron is rectangular on plan as the vimāna and gūdhamandapa are laid out in a common enclosing wall. The Pārsvanātha temple at Halebid has a detached asthānamandapa (sitting hall) in front of the gudhamandapa. The Santinätha temple at Jinanāthapuram stands on a jagati-platform. The Mallikarjuna temple at Puspagiri and the monolithic Chotā Kailāśa at Ellora are entered through a pratoligateway. The Jaina temple near Caranti-matha at Aihole, the Jaina temple (No. 1) at Mulgund, the great Jaina temple at Lakkundi, the Candraprabha temple at
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