Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 439

Samavasarana
417
decorated with gold on the top. Each of these walls had four ornamental gopuras (gateways). Besides each gateway vāpi (tank) with golden lotuses were made.
To the north-east, inside the second wall, a dias (devacchanda) was made for Jina. The east gate was occupied by golden-coloured two Vaimānika gods, the south gate by two white coloured Vyāntara gods, the west gate by two red-coloured Jyotiska gods and the north gate by two black-coloured Bhavanādhipatis as door keepers. At the four gates of second wall in the same order stood, beginning with east, the goddess Jaya, Vijayā, Ajitā and Aparājitā. On the last rampart at each gate stood a Tumbura as door-keeper with a skull-crowned club and a garland of human skulls.
In the centre of Samavasaraņa the Vyantara gods made a caitya-tree and beneath it a pītha (platform) with manifold jewels and on it a dias (candaka) of gems. In the centre of it a jewelled lion-throne was placed On both sides of the throne the fly-whisk bearing Yakşas were standing. Entering the Samavasarana by the east-gate Jina makes pradaksina of the caitya-tree and bowing to the congregation takes his seat on the lion-throne. The Vyantara gods make three life like images of Jina and place them in the other three directions so that every one in the assembly finds himself facing the Jina.
The place in the first rampart was for sädhus and sādhvis. The Vaimänika women take their seat between these two groups entering from the east gate. The women of Bhavanavāsi gods, Jyotiska and Vyantaras entering from west gate stood in the west. The Kalpavāsi gods, men and women entering from the north gate stand in north-east. The animals stand inside the second wall and the animals used as conveyances in the third wall.
An interesting account of the Samavasarana provided by Jinasena is as follows - Indra himself made a Indra-nila (blue) gem Samavasarana circular in plan. It was surrounded by dhūliśālā (mud wall) of the
dust particles of various gems producing rainbow effect. On four sides were torana-dvāras (arched gateways) of golden pillars with makara faces having jewel garlands,
Inside the dhulisala in the middle of roads were măna-stambhas made of gold. At the bases of manastambhas were kept the golden images of Jinendra worshipped by Indras. Music and dancing continued before the Jina. The Samavasarana area was encircled by a moat filled with water and creeper groves. A little away from it was the first rampart made of gold. Its top was studded with pearls. The fortification was adorned with the figures of animals like elephants, horses and tigers and birds like swans, parrots and peacocks. On four directions there were gateways of silver with padmarāga gem tops. Near the gateways there were nine Nidhis (treasures) as well as the nātyaśālās (theatres) which were engaged by dancing heavenly damsels. The Samavasarana was endowed with kridamandapas (pavilion used as pleasure resorts), artificial hillocks, mansions (harmya), prekşāgrhas, citraśālās (picture galleries), ekaśālās or dviśālās (single or double-room buildings) and mahä-präsåda (big palaces). In the centre encircled by three walls there was a caitya-tree nearby having mangala-dravyas. At its root were four images of Jinendra worshipped by Indra and other gods, men and other beings. Jinasena also gives the details of forests, adorned gateways in the forests, nātyaśālās, images of Siddhas, beautiful buildings, kütägäras, sabhāgrhas, prekśägrhas, stupas made of padmaräga gems, adorned with the images of Siddhas and Arhats. Vyantara gods, Bhavanvāsi and Kalpavāsī gods were placed on the gateways as door keepers. The gods, men and animals all have their fixed places in the srimandapa and the place for Jina was in the gandhakuti, erected by Kubera. In the gandhakuti Jina sits on a lion throne with bhämandala.
The elaborate description of Samavasaraņa given by Jinasena includes the various constituents of a big city with fortification, a surrounding moat, pleasure resorts, stepwells, theatres, lawns, lakes, palaces etc.
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