________________
232 / The Rāstrakūtas and Jainism
makara-toraņas, flywhisk bearers, a votive offering plank depicting king Vikrama Sāntara distributing charities, are of considerable importance. But greatest of all are the two splendid Jina Pārsva stelas of late ninth century or early tenth century, kept inside the main hall of the larger Parśvanātha temple, are of immense value. The sculptor sought to glorify the meditation of Pārsva, deeply immersed in thinking about the nature of soul and the path of liberation. Displaced three large sized door-guardian images are to be noted, and can be compared with very few surviving dvārapalas, of this size and execution of the Rāștrakūta age.
8.4.4.9.1. There are about three pairs of flywhisk bearers that divulge the traits of antiquity. These cāmaradharas once stood in attendance to Jina images in the places of worship and may be dated to late 9th cent., and early 10 century.
8.4.4.9.2. A ceiling - piece bearing the figure of septacephalous in the centre, symbolising Dharanendra, flanked by four squares, with a full bloomed lotuses inside. Looking at its style of Gangas and Pallavas, it can be assigned to early 9th cent. This remarkable ceiling sculpture may have been in the original Lokkiyabbe (Nokkiyabbe/Padmāvāti) house of worship.
8.4.4.9.3. The Sāntara architects had preference to dvitala, two-storeyed, type of shrines is revealed from the existing structures, Pārsva basadi, Bõgara basadi, Kamatha Pārsvanātha basadi and the Makkaļa basadi - are dvitala dēvālayas, reminding the storeyed Jinālayas at Aihole, Hallūr and Pattadakal.
8.4.4.9.4. Achievements of the Sāntaras in the field of (Jaina) architecture may be summed up in the words of Prof. M. A. Dhaky : 'Northern Malnād or Sāntaļige style is fresh in expression and reveals clarity, delicacy, and a chasteness of detail not obtained in the slightly later work of Kuntala proper, such as the Rāştrakūţa temples at Kukkanūr, Aihole,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
