Jaina Art and Architecture Vol 02

Author(s): A Ghosh
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 31

MONUMENTS & SCULPTURE A.D. 600 TO 1000
(PART IV
arcuate arms and Vidyadhara-toranas with a frieze of flying Vidyadhara forms making the arch; the last is a feature rarely seen in other temples.
The ardha-mand apas have similar deva-koşthas. The square closed mukha-mand apa too has pilasters similar to those of the vimanas and their ardha-mandapas. An open pillared agra-mand apa with lathe-turned soapstone pillars of the Cāļukyan variety was added later in front of the maha-mand apa. Inside the maha-mandapa are four central pillars of the usual Pallava type, with square bases resting on larger padma-pithas and octagonal shafts carrying kalasa-capitals. The other eight pillars are of the mandapa-type with square sadurams at base and top and intervening octagonal kastu. The disposition of the central four and surrounding eight pillars suggests a nava-ranga plan as in the Calukyan genre, and the affinity is suggested more by the central bay having a ceiling-slab depicting the Dik-pālas on the cardinal and diagonal ends with a central figure of Dharanendra Yakşa, standing, two-armed, with a bow held in the left one like Kodanda Rāma, and a conch applied to the mouth as if in the act of blowing it. Behind him rises a five-headed serpent with its hood over the Yakşa's head. There are two cauri-bearers one on either side. The central shrine is consecrated to Mahāvira, seated on a finely-worked simhāsana, and also with a cauri-bearer on either side. Externally, the hära over the architrave of each vimāna is mounted on a vedikā and has four karnakūtas at the corners and four bhadra-śālās at the cardinals.
The second storey is much simpler with four pilasters on its harmya-wall on each face, including the cantoning ones at the corners. The two central pilasters on each side are set forward a little and enclose a niche surmounted by a torana.
The architrave carries a harsa-valabhi as in the lower storcy. The top course over the harmya-prastara of the sccond storey is a vyāla-mala frieze and at the corners are placed four crouching lions. It is from the grīva upwards that the three vimānas show their essential difference. The central vimāna has a square Nägara griva and śikhara above. The western vimăna has the design of the octagonal Dāvida grīva-śikhara. The eastern Vesara vimāna is circular, carrying a circular griva and sikhara. The stūpis of all the three vimānas are missing.
To this nuclear tri-kūtācala of the cruciform pattern (as against the linear alignment in the Candragupta-basti) has been added an open pillared agramand apa with lathe-turned steatite pillars of the later Cāļukyan form at the
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