Jain Journal 2014 07

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

Page 79

JAIN JOURNAL: VOL-XLIX, NO. 1-IV JULY 2014 JUNE 2015
Udaygiri in M.P. There are two Jaina caves in good condition out of many, now each contain an image of Pārsvanātha of 3rd century.
Devagadha in M.P. This place also has Jaina caves and shrines of early Gupta period. A shrine of śāntinātha is in good condition has main Garbhagraha, Mandapa, Ardhamandapa and Porch/entrance and a Manstambha.
In Gujarat, Junagadh, Dhank and Talja also have ancient Jaina caves.
In Karnataka, the Chalukyas of Vatapi/Badami had great respect for Jainism as per the inscription at Aihole, in a Prasasti of Pulkesin II composed by Jaina poet Ravikirti', preserved in Meguti shrine in the cave. The Meguti temple was built 634 A.D. Menabasti cave has beautiful carving on the ceiling showing the motifs of Timingala, Mithun, a deity Naga, Swastika, etc. in Karnataka, Jaina shrines are constructed in two ways (i) a Basadi / Basati and (ii) Betta. In Basadi, Mandapa has many pillars having Garbhagriha but without a space for Parikrama except few shrines. The Betta style is available on hills or on small mound; moreover this shrine is surrounded by boundary wall often with a Bahubali image within eg. Karkal and Venur.
Badami caves were excavated in 6th to 7th century. Here first time, Bahubali's image was carved with creepers and her two sisters. The Rashtrakuta king Amoghvarsha stayed here after accepting monkhood.
In Tamilnadu the earliest architectural activity commences with the Jaina's natural caverns, where sleeping beds for recluses were engraved in the rocks assigned to 2nd B.C. More than a hundred caverns have been brought to light uptill now. There are 89 early
6. A seminar on 'Spectrum of Jainism in Southern India' in 2008 by K.J. Somaiya
Centre for Studies in Jainism.' Jainism in Karnataka.