Holy Abu

Author(s): Jayantvijay
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala

Page 27

Hoty Abel (6) Gudha-mandapa, pavilion immediately in front of the shrine. This was a closed halt generally used by visit: ors for darshana and choral chanting, etc.
(7) Mūla-Garbha-Gyha, the cell or shrine proper, lighted only through the door for entering it, and containing a cross-legged figure of Rșhabhanātha to whom the temple is dedicated
No description or drawing can convey an adequate expression of the great beauty and the detailed carving of the interior of the temple,
The other temple, known as Luņiga Vasahī, is dedicated to Neminātha, the twenty-second Tīrthařkara and was built by the two brothers-Vastupāla and Tejapāla about two centuries later (c. 1230 A.D.).
The names of these two ministers have become proverbial in Gujarāt history for generosity, religious devotion and patronage of learning. They spent untold millions on raising some of the most beautiful art-monuments of our country: for example, the Trikūțāchala Mallinātha temple on the Girnār hill in Kāțhiāwād, and the temple of Neminātha at Ābu. The temple was named Lūņiga Vasati after Lūņiga, one of the brothers of the two ministers who died young. It is said that Vastupāla was inspired in this endeavour by listening to an account of Vimala Vasahí at Ābu. He revealed his mind to his brother Tejapāla, who not only gave hearty support to the idea but himself went to the quarries at Ārāsaņā and he got extricated double the quantity of stone required to build the temple. Then with the help of bullocks and carts he had it transported to the foot of the hill and up the hill by means of a gradually sloping ascending path (umbiriņi-patha). This approach road was afterwards demolished to prevent unauthorised trespass. At convenient points of the road refreshment