Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 28

Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
From the 7" century A.D. to the end of the 13th century A.D. which is reckoned to be the last phase of the history of ancient India, the work of excavating caves was abandoned in northern India and new sites like Ellora, Dharashiv, Ankai-Tankai etc. in Maharashtra, Badami and Aihole in Karnataka, and Vilappakkam, Sittannavasal etc. in Tamil Nadu, all located in southern India, were patronised with rock-cut architecture. Some of these sites like Ellora etc. are adorned with beautiful Jaina caves. At Ellora some monolithic Jaina temples imitating the style of the structural temples were also executed. The architectural development of this long period, however, is to be particularly seen in the structural Jaina temples which manifested in a number of regional styles.
The Jaina buildings are so numerous and varied that it is very difficult to describe them all in one Volume. Secondly, the majority of Jaina temples of the
medieval and modern periods have not yet been properly studied and documented, and all that is published is very sketchy. We have, therefore, discussed here the Jaina buildings erected up to the 13th century A.D. only, those of the later period will be incorporated in the next Volume of this series.
The Jaina buildings are described here in the chronological order. But where there are more than one building, all the Jaina buildings of that site are taken together putting only the earliest one in the general chronological order, the others follow the chronological sequence at the site. This is followed in case of Jaina temples only. As regards the rock-cut Jaina caves, they are described in the same order as they are numbered today. In order to have a glimpse of the architectural development of the style in the various regions, the Jaina buildings are grouped State-wise and then described site-wise within that State.
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