Jain Heritage and Beyond

Author(s): Shailesh Shah
Publisher: Oshwal Associations of The UK

Page 54

Ghummata
The base, otherwise, known as adhisthana or pitha, here includes also the most lower parts of the temple known as jagati. The jagati and pitha together serve the pupose of a platform on which the walls of the garbhagruha rest. The basement (i.e. pitha), the upper surface of which levels the floor of the interior, is carved with a series of horizontal mouldings like rows of grinning faces (grasamukhs or kirtimukhas), - processions of hourses, elephants or men, besides some form of semi-circular cushion mouldings ornamented with jewel motives or geometrical diamond reliefs. In the case of a shrine provided with a pradakshina passage, the most lavishly decorated side is that of the other wall.
Shikhara
The word shikhara is used to denote the whole superstructure including the crown (amalaka) and the finial (kalasha). In respect to the structural development of the shikhara style in India the two principal varieties (i) the pyramidal shape and (ii) the curvilinear shape are prominent. Both the superstructures have truncated bodies, which are either straight or curved, and are terminated by a platform (the neck, skandha) and above it rests the crowning portion whence rises the finial.
The shikhara is composed of an orderly grouping of miniature multiples of itself. In its simpliest form a miniature spire, the oorushringa, is built over each bhadra, the whole being crowned and held together by the amalaka.
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