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CHAPTER 22]
discarded this view in favour of a Jaina attribution which is now unanimously accepted. Like all other local Jaina temples, the Ghantai was also dedicated to the Digambara sect. This is proved by the sixteen auspicious symbols (as against fourteen of the Svetambara tradition) represented on the doorway-architrave as well as by the numerous nude Jina images excavated by Cunningham in and around this structure,' which included a fragmentary sculpture of Adinatha bearing an inscriplion dated Vikrama year 1142 (A.D. 1085), also in the local Museum.
CENTRAL INDIA
The temple has apparently no jagatī. But as all the Khajuraho temples are invariably reared up on a jagati, the jagati here is probably hidden under débris.
The adhiṣṭhāna-mouldings, visible above the ground, consist of two plain bhitta-courses surmounted by jāḍyakumbha, karṇikā, antara-patra decorated with niches containing diamond-patterns flanked by pilasters, similar to those found at the Parsvanatha, and paṭṭikā decorated with stencilled heartshaped flowers. The top of the paṭṭikā marks the plinth-level.
The ardha-mandapa stands on a catuski of four pillars. The pillars stand on an ornate base (kumbhikā), resting on an upapīṭha, which is octagonal and decorated with rosettes, stencilled scrolls and lotus-petals. The kumbhikā shows the mouldings of khura, kumbha, kalasa, plain antara-patra and kapota decorated with kudus. The shaft is octagonal below, sixteen-sided in the middle and circular above. The sixteen-sided section is surmounted by an octagonal madhya-bandha decorated with interlocking loops of garlands issuing from the mouths of kirttimukhas, the loops enclosing Vidyadharas represented in añjali-mudrā or as carrying garlands or playing musical instruments. This upper band of the madhya-bandha is decorated with lumas in relief. From this madhya-bandha issues a lamp-stand projection with a bhūta on the soffit. Plain projections for lamp-stand also issue from the base of each of the four pillars.
The circular section of the shaft carries four madhya-bandhas, of which the lowest is circular and elaborately decorated with large garland-loops, and long chain-and-bell pattern flanked by garlands and streamers and often alternating with lotus-stalks suspended from the mouths of kirttimukhas. The garland-loops enclose Vidyadharas, ascetics, mithunas and vyalas. The second
1 Alexander Cunningham, Archaeological Survey of India Report, II, Simla, 1871, p. 43. 281
