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PROTECTED JAINA MONUMENTS
99
also indicated with flexed cornice and fluted horizontal roll ornamented corbel below. The ceiling of the inner shrine shows paintings representing samavasarana. Lotus medallions adorn pillar and pilaster faces. In the niche on the northern wall of the outer hall is a figure of Jaina acharya seated in dhyana pose and cross legged. A single chatra is over the head to indicate that he is not a Tirthankara. An inscription on the pillar near it designates him as Tiruvasiriyan or the venerable Acharya. The opposite wall has a niche with a Parsvanatha figure seated with five hooded serpent above. The sanctum carries three images in high relief. The northern and central representing Adinatha and Mahavira have triple umbrellas while the southern one has only a single umbrella and was perhaps an Acharya. The entire surface of the wall, ceiling, pillars etc., were painted originally. Especially delightful is the depiction of the Samavasarana with the souls of the bhavyas inhabiting it, for hearing the Tirthankara's discourses. Before reaching the heaven, the souls are said to pass through several regions, including one of a lotus pool with birds, fish, animals like makaras, elephants and bulls and men sporting there. The bhavyas are represented in colours (lesya) deep red (padma) orange (pita) etc., which along with white (sukla) are considered as the colours of pure souls, as different from black (Krishna), indigo (nila) and grey, of the wicked souls. The paintings on the northern and southern façade pillars, of dancers with a pose of dandahasta or latavrischika, is even more beautiful and impressive and the natural hairdo and facial features, recall the best classical values near the Ajanta paintings of the first six centuries A.D., or the Sigiria (Ceylon) paintings of the 5th century A.D. The technique employed is of the fresco secco type, on a
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