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eleventh and twelfth century can be found in hundreds spread all over the country.
Talaprakosha or bhomyarā (underground chamber), Nandīśvara Jinālaya, and Sahasrakūța Jinālaya are all different names of temples only. In order to keep the idols safe from invaders underground chambers were made and images were placed on pedestals. A Nandiśvara Jinālaya is constituted of fifty-two shrines, thirteen in each cardinal direction. Such temples have been made at many places. At some places models of Nandīśvara Jinālayas in metal are also available. In a Sahasrakūta Jinālaya there are 1008 images. These are either carved on stone slab or cast in metal. As compared to stone a much larger number of Sahasrakūta Jinālaya is found in metal.
In the plan of a temple Māna-stambha also has an important place. Probably the oldest Māna-stambha is of Om (Uttar Pradesh); this elongs to the period of emperor Samudragupta. The most beautiful and artistic Māna-stambha is the Kirti-stambha at Chittorgadha fort. It is internationally famous for its unique art. Like Māna-stambha Caityastambha (smaller free standing pillars within a temple) have also been popular. On a smaller pillar four back-to-back Tīrthankara images are made and this is called Caitya-stambha.
In some ancient temples stūpas (dome like structure) and āyāgapattas (slab carved with sacred Jain figures and symbols) are also
seen.
Vihāras (religious complex), where ascetics stayed and conducted their studies and meditational practices, were also popular in Jain tradition. A Jain vihāra was found during excavations at Pahādapura (district Rājaśahi in Bangladesh). According to a copper plate inscription (478 AD) found there, this belonged to Nirgrantha śramaņācārya (Jain Acārya) Guhanandi and was spread over in one thousand square yard area. It had more than 175 cave-like chambers. At the center was a swastika shaped three-storied Sarvatobhadra (facing four cardinal directions) Jinālaya (Jain temple) with a superstructure at the third storey. This is the first known temple.
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