Jain Temples of Rajasthan

Author(s): Sehdav Kumar
Publisher: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Art Abhinav Publications

Page 97

Mukhamandapa or Navacauki As in the Vimalavasāhi temple, there are nine bays in the navacauki in the Lunavasāhi temple. Each of these bays has a highly ornamental ceiling, some of them of extraordinary elegance, cut with the delicacy of an ivory carver.
Composed of a square padmašila and three rectangular courses, the ceiling in the central bay is kşiptotksipta, 'a composite ceiling of several elements', of the padmamandāraka mode. The three courses project thirty, twenty-two and fourteen lūmās respectively. The ceiling is raised up by a rectangular frame of four slabs slightly projecting into the space of the ceiling. The underside of these slabs is carved with half lotuses with stalks. This ceiling is a work of commanding beauty.
Consisting of seven courses and a circular padmašilā, the domical ceiling in the northwest bay is of sabhamandāraka variety. The faces of the various courses are decorated with lotus scrolls, kirttimukhas, and lotus petal-and-bud ornaments. In this ceiling the petals and buds are cut with an exquisite delicacy.
A breathtaking display of full, half and quarter lūmās in the four corners, the centre and four cardinal points makes this ceiling in the northeast bay of the navacauki in Lunavasāhi temple an outstanding achievement. This kind of ceiling is known as a kşipta vitana belonging to a nábhicchanda order; this ceiling is amongst the best of its kind.
Consisting of seven receding courses, this ceiling in the south bay is masterly in its treatment of the various decorative elements and icons. Its various courses are decorated with lotus petals and scrolls, kirttimukhas, campaka flowers, and lotus petal-and-bud motifs. The twenty-four tirthankaras are shown seated in dhyānamudra.
In the navacauki, flanking the güdhamandapa door are two ornamental niches, khattakas. Jinas, Sāntinātha on the right and Sambhavanātha on the left, in dhyanamudră are seated in the niches. Rangamandapa As in Vimalavasāhi, the rangamanqapa in Lunavasāhi consists of twelve pillars disposed along the four sides of a square platform. Eight of these pillars form an octagon and support a highly ornate domical ceiling.
The domical ceiling in the rangamandapa is of sabhăpadmamandāraka type, with a commanding central lotus pendant - the padmašila. The ceiling is a work of overwhelming beauty, elegant proportions and rich ornamentation.
The dome is almost three metres in radius, and consists of ten circular courses.
ti flanking the
Såntinātha on seated in the