Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 226

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Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
garbhagrha is narrow and has a polished black-stone sculpture of Nandi facing the enshrined Linga placed at the time of the conversion of the temple to Saiva sect.
The gūdhamandapa, which is larger than the vimāna, is very similar in form and design to the latter but the bhadra on both the east and west walls is framed by four pilasters crowned by makara-arches, the bays at the karna and bhadra offsets have standing robeless figures of Pärsvanātha and Bahubali, and the recesses between the karmas and pratibhadras contain large latticed windows adorned with geometrical patterns. In one variety the lattice shows four-spoked interlocked squares, while in the other it consists of vertical and horizontal bars with rosetted bosses at the joints. The gūdhamandapa is approached from the ground by a flight of six steps cut across the adhisthāna mouldings; the upper three steps are flanked by elephant banisters. Its pañcaśākha doorframe is uncarved. The roof is flat with gentle slope to drain off rain water.
The interior of the gūdhamandapa shows four rows of five pillars each, dividing the entire area into a wide central nave and two constricted side aisles and making thus twelve bays in all of unequal sizes. The central part of the nave is slightly raised from its environ, but it is not symmetrical in disposition. All the pillars are square and massive and bear no ornamentation, though above the base and about the midway height they have cubical blocks surmounted by plain roundels. The pillars have no abacus and their corbels carry double-volute mouldings and a tenon. The cross-beams and the ceilings are uncarved, but the underside of each beam is relieved with three lotuses. The wall is also plain but is reinforced by pilasters placed in alignment with the pillars.
The temple has no inscription for dating. On the basis of its architectural features, decorative motifs and sculptural forms the temple may be placed in the latter half of the gth century A.D. HUMCA
Humca, the capital city of the Sāntaras, is situated
in the Shimoga district of Karnataka. In ancient period it was known as Patti (Patti-Pombulccapura), i.e. the city of gold. This hilly country (Malanād) of Hurica was ruled by the śāntaras from about the end of the 7h century A.D. to as late as early part of the 16th century A.D. Though the śāntaras did not play a major role in the political scenario of Karnataka, they were a great patron of art and architecture. The Säntaras were Jaina by faith and patronised the Jaina goddess Padmavati who was also the presiding deity of Pombulcca. At present, there are six extant Jaina temples, all built of sandstone. They form a group by themselves and are mostly royal creations.
Süle-basti - This is the oldest, albeit the largest, Jaina temple at Humca (Pl. 85). It consists of a square vimāna and a güdhamandapa, the latter being larger than the vimāna. The plan of the vimāna does not bear projections.
In elevation the temple shows only the adhisthana and wall, the superstructure does not seem to have been built. The adhisthana is composed on an upăna, jagati, three-faceted kumuda, kampa, kantha marked at intervals by vertical pilasters, kampa, ürdhvapadma, kapota and kampa. The flat wall shows panjara-kosthas with shallow slit-niches on the two faces of the karmas and only long slit-niches on the bhadras. The nāsi-bosses of the pañjarakosthas are left unfinished. The pilasters framing the slit-niches and also those appearing at the corners of the wall are all of the square order. They are plain below and have vase-shaped two laśunas (the lower one being inverted) with an intervening broad belt. The capital consists of padma, ghata, pāli and rectangular phalaka and is topped by bevelled corbel. The wall is surmounted by a kapota with uncarved triangular bosses. The gūdhamandapa has disappeared.
Probably, the temple was built in the last quarter of the 9th century A.D.
Bogāra-basti - This is the finest structure at Hurca. This is also one of the most beautiful temples of this period in the whole of Karnataka. On plan it
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