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JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXXII, No. 3 January 1998
repairs and renovations, it is impossible to know its antiquity relying on the present condition of the monument. The Jaina matha has arthamukhamandapa. Over it, there are small gopuras which contain niches with Jaina Tirthankaras. The pecularity of the matha is the depiction of female trampling over makaras as dwarapalas. The exact import of this type of depiction is not clear. The door frame of the entrance shows a Jaina muni on the lalatabimba. The pillars of the arthamantapa are carved with dancing figures. The matha, in its interior, is an interesting structure with a triple unit of cells having a common corridor in front. The cells are now kept empty with bare walls, but a seated Jaina muni is carved on the lintel of the above three cells. Very likely, they might have been used as residenciaries. These three cells are connected with covered corridor on four sides. The top of the centre portion is kept uncovered. Above the corridor, there is a parapet wall on all sides containing small gopuras with Tirthankaras and their sasanadevis in the niches. On the top of the corridor, monkey figures are carved here and there. The adhisthana of the corridor contains ghanas with usual poses. This Jaina matha, no doubt, stands as landmark by virtue of its uniqueness.
9. Tadpatri
It is a taluka headquarters and it is fifty-four (54) Kms away from Anantapur town. It is connected by bus and rail routes. Moreover it is also famous for magnificient temples of Vijayanagara period. It was a flourishing Jain centre during the 12th century A.D. It has a mention in the inscription. A certain feudatory Chief, Udayāditya, made a gift of land to the divine Magachandra who was the presiding priest of the Chandranatha Parsvanatha Basadi. Magachandra is said to have belonged to the mulasangha Desigana Kundakundanya, Pustaka gadha and Ingaleasvarabali. It further informs that Magachandra's guru was Bhanukirthin whose guru was Bahabali. The vestiges of Parsvanatha basadi are no more traceble now.
10. SII, No. 788.
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