ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 242

annual festivals, the most notable being around Holi festival in Feb-March when several thousand Jains gather for prayers and pilgrim. The temple architecture, especially the domes (śikharas) are noteworthy as belonging to different styles and periods (1300AD onwards).
Gwalior We can group the images at Gopācala in five sub groups as follows.
1.
Urvahi group:
There are twenty two idols in standing postures on the way to the fort from Urvahi Gate. On five idols we find engravings to show the year 1440-1453. Idol number 20 of Lord Ādinātha is the tallest, being 57 feet high and 5 feet wide at the feet (G-4). Idol number 22 of Lord Neminātha in sitting posture measures 30 feet high and we cannot find such a tall idol in sitting posture anywhere in India. In 1527, the Urvahi Jinas were mutilated by the Mughal emperor Babar, a fact which he records in his memoirs.
South-west group:
This group is located on rock outside Urvahi gate and under Khematal. There are five idols. Idol number G1 depicts a small child, husband and wife (poibly servants) and idol of lord Mahāvīra with his mother Trišalā in sleeping posture and eight feet long are the important ones (G-5).
3.
North-west group (G2): • Near Toda gate, there are three idols of Lord Ādinātha having inscription of the
year 1400AD and the names of the sculptor and the Bhattāraka who made these idols.
4.
North-east group:
This group consists of small idols having inscription of the year 1355AD. These are located in a cave above Ganesh Gaur.
South-east group
(G3): These are considered to be the most important. Immediately after leaving the Phoolbagh gate under the Gangola Tal and spread over a kilometer and mostly cut in the rocks. There are 20 idols which are 20 to 30 feet tall and another
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