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CANONS & SYMBOLISM
(PART IX
Its lofty plinth is reached by circular flights of two thousand steps, each step 1 cubit high. On reaching the top one would find wide avenues with railings on both the sides. All the four avenues start with each point, cross the ground of blue gems and lead towards the centre. The railings are made of crystal and provided with doorways, above which arches and flags and festoons produce a pleasing effect.
Then comes the compound-wall called dhūli-śāla, with four gates, Vijaya, Vaijayanta, Jayanta and Aparăjita, one each in the four directions; they are three-storeyed structures, adorned with the auspicious symbols, the nine jewels and large effigies carrying incense-burners. The gates have the makara-torana at the exterior and ratna-torana at the interior; at the middle of each side is a theatre-hall; the Devas or celestial ones holding rods of jewel guard the gates.
Enclosed by the dhūli-sala compound is the region called caitya-prasddabhumi, 1 kroša by five-sixths of a krośa in dimensions. This is the wide band that lies between the first circle and consists of palaces between the first circle and the railing on the inner side. The caitya-prāsāda-bhūmi, attributive of its name, consists of palaces with a Jinalaya placed between every fifth of them. The four avenues continue here too and are flanked by theatres and dancinghalls. At each of the four places where the avenues reach this region, there is a huge column called māna-stambha, literally the pride-pillar, which rises up on a platform comprised of three terraces. They are reached by a flight of sixteen steps, eight for the lower terrace and four each for the intermediate and the top ones. The platform is surrounded by three enclosures with doors facing the four cardinal points and opening on to four beautiful lakes filled with crystal-clear water. A railing provided with gates, steps made of jewels and two appended pools are the prominent features of each lake. The height of a māna-stambha is twelve times the height of the body of the Tirthankara concerned and is divided into three segments, the basal segment with vajradvāras or the doors too hard, as a thunderbolt, to be perforated, the circular second one made of sphatika or crystal and the top one of vaidurya or cat'seye. All round there are flywhisks, bells, rattles, string of gems, banners, etc. On the top of the māna-stambha there is a Tirthankara image in each direction brought by Indra for this casual installation specially from some akstrima caityālaya, all of them with eight prātihāryas or attending symbols, namely the aśoka-tree, sirhhäsana, triple parasol, halo, divya-dhvani, heavenly shower of flowers, sixty-four cămara-dhări Yakşas and drum-beaters. The railing bounding this region on its inner side is provided with four gates, one for
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