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Jaina Shrines at Achalagaḍh]
(4) Shrine of the Tirthankara Shri Shantinatha
At the foot of the hill fort of Achalagadh, about 50. yards westward, on a small mound is the shrine of Shantinatha enclosed in a big compound and affording solitude for the pious worshipper.
$55
The shrine faces the east and is composed of the sanctum, the adjoining Gudhamaṇḍapa (hall), the Navachoki, the Śṛngāra Choki, and a courtyard. It has a Shikhara on the main cell, and the Bhamatī is enclosed by a wall. The entrance doorway to the Gudhamaṇḍapa from the Navachoki, seems to have been newly constructed in place of the old mutilated one; the Navachoki, also has been enclosed in later walls and turned into a sort of sabhamaṇḍapa, it is reached by ascending of five steps from the open platform in front which was reserved for a Sabhāmaṇḍapa. This is reached by ascending 13 steps, at the foot of which is a big śṛngāra-chokī with a dome above. The entrance to this choki is reached by another flight of 18 steps. There is some open space in the compound whose walls are very strongly built. This whole is further enclosed in a lower wall, a small courtyard and a late iron gate. The whole area belongs to the temple and is a fine quiet and cool place for peaceful meditation.
People call it a temple built by Mahārājā Kumārapāla of Patan. According to the Arbudakalpa (in the Vividhatirthakalpa) of Jinaprabha sūri and the Arbudagirikalpa of Shri Soma-sundarasūri, there was a shrine on Mt. Abu dedicated to Shri Mahāvīras vāmī, built by the Solankī ruler of Gujarat, Mahārājā Kumārapāla. These references as also the temple structure1 itself suggest that this must
1 It is said that on the basements of shrines, built by kings, ministers or millionaires, mouldings showing rows of lions (simhamāla or simha-thara), elephants (gajathara) horses
