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Vimala-Vasahi ]
Descriptions of the different Bhavas1
(1) On the outer wall of the main entrance to the Gudhamaṇḍapa of the Vimala Vasahī, between the doorway and the ornamental niche on the left, there are reliefs on the wall, which can be divided in four sections. The uppermost shows a shravaka sitting in front of a Jina and performing the Chaitya-vandana ( obeissance to Jinas etc., obligatory upon a Jaina layman or woman), two shrāvikās stand by, one of them with folded arms. The second section shows two shravakas carrying garlands of flowers. The third shows an acharya in the act of preaching, sitting with a Sthāpanā (Gujarātī-Thavṇai) in front of him. 2 The last section, divided in four rows, one below the other, shows three monks, three nuns, three shravakas and three shrāvikās-all standing (figure II).
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(2) On the corresponding right side, i. e. between the main entrance and the ornamental niche on our right, the 1 Bhāva Representation of different scenes or incidents. These are represented on ceilings, friezes, architraves, front walls of cells, etc.; some of them may be compared with Buddhist Jātaka-reliefs, so far as the themes are concerned. Here the term Bhāva (representation or relief-scene) will be used in the following descriptions. Muni Jayantavijaya, when he prepared these notes, supervised over the new numberings of these different Bhāvas, which can be seen inscribed at proper places in the temple. This has rendered it easy for a visitor to understand and identify the reliefs with the help of this guide-book. -Translator.
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2 Sthāpanācharya is a wooden stand of crossed-sticks, like the letter X, on which a book or manuscript can be placed. It is so called because it is supposed to be the sthāpanā (installation) of one's own teacher. A monk or an acharya, keeps it in front of him, as a symbol suggesting the presence of his own teacher or superior.
