Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 227

Jaina Temple Architecture : South India
205
consists of a two-storeyed vimāna, antarala and güdhamandapa, and like the Sule-basti it has no projections.
The adhisthāna of the vimāna is of the very unusual type consisting of a three-faceted kumuda, antarita-ālinga (recess and projecting band), again antarita-ālinga, kantha between kampas and three receding kampas. The wall (Pl. 83) is flat but relieved by pilasters which correspond to those seen in the Süle- basti. The prastara above the wall consists of eight courses. The first is a two-tiered plain uttara (beam). The second is a figural band representing hamsa, bhūta and vyālamālās. The third is kapota decorated with nāsī-bosses which are coaxial with the wall pilasters and shelter seated Jinas. The face of the nāsis is adorned with elegant vine creepers which issue from the mouth of a grāsa carved at the top. The fourth is ālinga carved with dentil pattern. The fifth is antarita adorned at intervals with makara heads placed sideways. The sixth is a plain alinga. The seventh is kantha carved at regular intervals by pilasters. The eighth course is made up of a broad kantha between kampas and bears sculptured niches at some places. The hāra above the prastara shows fine kütas at the corners, śālā in the middle part and kapota in the häräntaras. The faces of the kūtas, śālās and kapota are each enriched with fine creepers that emerge from the mouth of a grāsa carved on the top. This is a rare representation in the south Indian temples. The nāsis of the śālā, kūta and hārāntara shelter Jina-head, Kinnarī-head and vyāla figure respectively.
The cubical wall of the upper storey is formed by karņas and projected bhadras. The bhadra bears a śālā-koştha (niche with śālā-top) and the karna a storeyed kapota-pañjara (apsidal pañjara pattern on kapota). The kapota-pañjara is a rare feature during this period, but it is found in the subsequent period of the Cālukyas of Kalyāņa.
The grivā and śikhara (Pl. 84) are of the square type and resemble the kūtas of the lower storey with
this difference that the näsi on each face is an elongated one and contains a figure of seated Jina.
Inside the vimāna-garbhagrha the lion-throne is intact but the enshrined image of Jina seems to be modern.
The antarāla connecting the vimāna to the gūdhamandapa is short and of little interest.
The gūdhamandapa, which is larger than the vimāna, is a simple structure. Its adhisthāna consists of jagati, three-faceted kumuda, kantha between kampas, and a pattikā. The wall is relieved by usual pilasters and is surmounted by an eave. The roof is flat. The entrance door the height of which is disproportionate to its width consists of two jambs, the inner being plain and the outer decorated with deeply cut scrolls. The lintel of the door carries figures of Sankhanidhi and Padmanidhi on its two ends, although they are usually represented below the jambs.
The interior of the gūdhamandapa shows four square pillars in the central nave and eight pilasters on the periphery. The wall, cross-beams and flat ceilings are uncarved, but the pillars, square in section, are very richly carved. The base of the pillars is short and uncarved. The shaft is divided into four almost equal sections. The first from below is plain. The second shows a vertical scroll-band on each of the four faces. The third is divided into two broad belts, the lower showing kīrttimukhas spewing jewelled ropes and foliate scrolls, and the upper the meandering creepers. The fourth is a vase-shaped lasuna bearing fine floral pattern or nāsi with seated Jina-figure. The capital consists of cyma and bulbous ghata and is topped by plain corbel. The pilasters conform to the pillars, but the kirttimukhas and the meandering creepers are here replaced by standing robeless Jinas (in one case Pārsvanātha and Bāhubali) and a band of exquisitely carved diamonds.
Stylistically, the temple is datable to the late 9ch century A.D.
Guddada-basti - This Jaina temple atop the hill of Humca is known to have been built in A.D. 898
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