Jain Journal 1989 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 38

Gleanings
Pārsvanatha Temple, Lodrovā
This late 15th or early 16th century Jain temple is by far the most beautiful building of the Great Indian Desert. Built of yellow sandstone, it shines like gold in the sun. Its jäli of stone-carved lace-work is superb and has a simplicity and boldness of design that is nowhere matched by the more ornate jāli work of the buildings in Jaisalmer fort and town. The use of yellow sandstone, with its golden aura and the delicate jāli carvings, is nothing new in the buildings of the old Jaisalmer state. What distinguishes this particular structure from all other buildings of the desert are its inexpressibly lovely contours, which project outwards from the base like the angles of a spreadout fan. The temple consists of (1) a cella with perforated screens in which is installed a new image (the older image has been removed to the Parsvanatha temple in Jaisalmer fort), (2) a porch with richly carved pillars that stand in front of the sanctum, (3) a circumbulatory (pradaksinā-patha) going round the cella and the porch and (4) a richly ornamented torana or gateway.
A spire rises over the cella. Carved into it are miniature spires that strongly accentuate the ascending movement. The outer wall of circumbulatory follows in every respect the star shaped ground plan of the sanctum itself. It is covered by a roof with large open windows. The light thus let in pours through the jāli windows of the cella into the sanctum itselfan unusual thing for a garbhagyha (cella of the sanctum) which is supposed to be dark. It is the combination of the star shaped ground plan with the outward incline of the walls of the circumbulatory that has created the striking angles of the temple. So far as I know, it is the only temple to be so structured in India. It is a unique medieval temple, but being situated in the heart of the desert, it has not attracted the attention it deserves from historians of Indian art. On the east side of the temple stands a strangely carved tree that is worshipped as the kalpavyk$a of Indian mythology. The tree is covered by a tower.
from the Great Indian Desert' by Rajat Kanta Ray, The Statesman, October 2, 1988.
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