Book Title: Jain Sanctuaries of the Fortress of Gwalior
Author(s): T V G Shastri
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore

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Page 104
________________ The Standing Tirthankara : Still further away towards right on the same wall, there is yet another nude image in standing posture. It is shown in a niche. It, possibly formed a part of another big sculpture which is no more seen. It could be the work of the iconoclasts of different religious faith that was responsible in removing and damaging the sculptures and temples here. Temple No. 2: This lies towards northern extremity of the series of cave temples. As in the first, the excavation of the hilly slope has provided excellent a natural ceiling as well as the inner space for this temple also. In general, it contains a mukhamandapa, a sabhamandapa, as two adjuncts to the garbhagrha. The Mukhamandapa : This is raised on 12 pillars in front of the shrine with 4 pillars lengthwise and 3 widthwise This lies in a squarish area of side 5 m. The pillars have the cross capitals with floral decoration on the sides. The edges of the cross beams show lion faces. Each pillar with the cross capital is held by dwarfish atlantes, as if they are holding them. Below the capital, there is a vase-of-foliage, ghatapallava decoration along the stem of the pillars . A similar carving is seen at the pillar bases. Towards, the southern extremity of the mukhamandapa, there is a shrine with a Tirthankara panel on the western wall. This forms the last shrine in the Neminatha group of caves. It is a closed squarish shrine of 3 m. in length. Within the shrine, there is one sculpture representing-tritirthika. The three standing Tirthankaras, cannot be identified, as they have no identifying symbols on them. However, with gajakalasha motif, the entire tritirthika panel, measure 21/2x11/2 m. Sabhamandapa: This is centrally located, between the mukhamandapa and the garbhagrha in the temple. The entrances to all three above components of the temple are originally alligned with their entrances facing east. The entrance dvara of the sabhamandapa is exquisitely carved. The stepping stone appears like half - moon, with two conches at it's base. The stone be shown as ardha-chandrasila. The floral decorations seen, along with the conches on either side of this stepping stone, can be rightly shown as 'sankhalankrtaardhachandra sila' or the conch decorated semicircular moonstone. This is a very early sculptural tradition, found in religious movements. (84)

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