Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 63

Rock-cut Jaina Architecture
two-fold toraņa-arch emerging from the mouth of a crocodile treated as corbel and supported by a female bracket figure. In the centre of the meeting point of the folds is a figure of seated Jina. The pilasters have plain base and capital. The lower part of their shaft is square and plain, while the upper part successively shows a standing Jina on the inner face and males on the sides with corners bearing flutes, a band of pearl festoons punctuated with figures of Gandharvas, diamond-and-bead band, and nāsis with lotuses on the fluted lasuna. The double padma (cyma recta) of the capital is also fluted, but the cushion-shaped bulbous kumbha is plain.
The gūdhamandapa (about 36 ft. square) is also dvi-anga on plan with shallow salilantaras (recesses) containing panjara-kosthas in between. The lower part of the wall is largely incomplete, but that of the upper portion on the south side is almost finished. Here the karņas show flying Vidyadhara couples having one of their two hands raised up in adoration, while the panjara- kosthas contain seated Yaksa or Yakşi in the cavity and Vidyādharas on the upper flanks. The tetragonal wall pilasters are plain, but the roll-brackets of their capital depict vine creepers. The prastara consists of plain beam, a frieze of bhūtas, a kapota with floral, animal or Gandharva head in corner nāsis and creepers in between them, and a plain prati-kantha. The hāra, wherever available, shows bhadraśālās, karnakūtas and pañjara-kosthas, all uncarved. The roof shows a raised circular platform but is not carved with lotus umbrella, though present in the great Kailāśa temple.
In the interior, the gūdhamandapa shows sixteen pillars in four lines of four each with corresponding pilasters. The pillars are of three different orders. The four central pillars are of the square variety with corners chamfered into three angles. Their base consists of a narrow plinth course, inverted cyma recta, torus and inverted cyma. Below, the shaft is plain and above, it shows an ornamental vertical band suspending from
pearl-festoons on each face. Above this occurs a diamond-and-bead band and then comes sloping plain shoulder course (vase-shaped lasuna) of the shaft. The capital has double padma (cyma recta) and a bulbous abacus surmounted by roll-brackets. The four corner pillars are of the mixed circular order. The remaining eight pillars standing on the main axis are of the mixed octagonal order. Their base is like that of the central pillars. The lower section of the shaft is square with stereotyped ghatapallava on the upper part, while the upper section is octagonal bearing decorative bands of festoons, carved diamonds and beads, and small nāsis at the basal part of a kalasa. The capital, also octagonal, is of the usual type, but the cushion is adorned with a diamond-and-bead band. The corbels above the capital are either wavy (taranga-potikā) or have carved central band (citra-potikā). The cross-beams and ceilings are flat and uncarved. The wall of the gūdhamandapa bears images of the seated Jinas and standing Pārsvanātha, totalling fourteen in all.
Each of the three entrance porches of the gūdhamandapa consists of two dwarf pillars and two pilasters and is roofed by an uncarved flat ceiling. Their adhisthāna and the kakşāsana above are only blocked out, but the pillars, pilasters and doorway are finished. The pillars are very similar to those of the antarāla. The triśākhā doorway consists of ratna, Vidyādhara (in couple) and stambha, and is surmounted on the lintel by a hāra of three śālās with two panjaras in between. The doorway in the west as well as south porch is flanked on either side by a dvārapäla (door guardian) placed sideway. The dvārapālas are absent in the north porch. The front porch is flanked in the west wall of the gūdhamandapa by eight-armed images of dancing Indras (Saudharmendra and Iśānendra).
The pratoli (or small gopura) has a plain doorframe and is roofed over by a curved eave-cornice and salaśikhara carrying a figure of lion on either end at the top and ornate nāsis in the central and side faces.
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