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

Previous | Next

Page 46
________________ According to Prabandhakosa and Bappa Bhattacharitra after the death of Yasovarman Am Raja succeeded him. He was said to have built a temple of Tirthankara Mahavir, the height of which was estimated to have run to 101 hands (50 m.) Cunningham appeared to have surveyed the temple and found that it was in a bad shape. His study showed that the northern side now contains a masjid built during the time of Iltamush. Am was succeeded by this son Dunduk who was after a courtesan Kantika. Unable to tolerate her husband's passion for her, his wife got him murdered by her own son Bhoja. The old Pal kings continued to hold sway at Gwalior inspite of Harsha's military ambitions during 7th century A.D. Possibly, he treated them as friendly subordinates. But after his death when Pratihars came to power, the Pal kings had to yield. An inscription of the Pratihara king Mihira Bhoj is in evidence in Gwalior fort in whose time a fine monolithic temple was built for god Caturbhuja (Vishnu). Proceedings upwards along the road from Alamgir gate to Dhonda gate, on the hill slope, towards right, there are some reliefs on natural rock, and a temple. It is an ekandika latina sikhara prasada. Architecturally, it is temple with simple mandapa in front and a Jala, with intricate mouldings. It has a ribbed stone amalasarika at the top. This was identified by Cunningham as the Caturbhuja temple. In the inscription of Bhoja dated to 876 A.D., we have the second authentic reference to Gwalior hill as Gopagiri. Another important temple attributed to their period is the Teli-ka-Mandir. It is a stupendous structure rising to a height of 27 m. and has a length almost similar in height with its long portico. It has four floors. The ceilings of the corresponding floors have disappeard. Most impressive is the Shikhara. It has the gajaprsta feature (elephant hip), at the top of the vertical section suggesting the architectural tradition of the nearby temples of Telingana. It is thus shown as Teli (ngana)- ka-Mandir (Plate 39) According to some, it is attributed to the period of Bhoja Pratihara. There is another version that it could be associated to the Rastrakuta period. It appears that Govinda III occupied the fort during 794 A.D. Anyway the architectural study shows that could be attributed to the period between 8th to 9th century A.D. The sculptures as seen in the mithunas, the secular scenes and the flexion in human (26)

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188