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jaina Monuments of Orissa
courtyard the temple has a very high plinth almost sharing with the front apartment. The lower parts of the main shrine are vertically divided into five projections, the central ones of which contain seated Jaina Tirthankara figures within niches. The superstructure above the bada is formed of miniature towers and the crowning part above the beki is supported by heads of squattish human figures placed on the vişama on each direction. The top most parts of the temple consist of the amalaka, khapuri and kalasa. The dhvajastambha is fixed near by the post meant for the lightening conductor.
The porch in front is having a square bāda and dome shaped roof. It has door openings on all directions and except the one leading to the sanctum others are flanked by windows. The doors in their front have sun-breakers designed in pyramidal roof on well polished marble pillars. The entire courtyard is paved with glazed tiles and mosaic. The inner chamber on a high pedestal preserves the images of Neminātha, Mahāvira and Munisuvrata all in yogasana pose. No trace of Navagraha slab is available on the lintel and in its place a seated figure of a Tirthankara is depicted.
The small Jaina shrine built by the mother of the late L. N. Sahu at Chaudwar is hardly fifty years old. It preserves a number of Jaina Tirthankara images. The Rşabha image of this place is disfigured through paintings. The shrine constructed at the site is a miniature temple of pidha order on a square base and plastered all over.
The other Jaina shrine at village Bhanapur on the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack section of National Highway for preservation of the brass idols of Jaina divinities recovered in the close vicinity was built in the last decade by one Kangali Bhatta. This temple facing west is constructed with a pyramidal roof supported on a square base. The crowning elements do not show any special feature. It too is plastered all over.
A modern shed is constructed at Podasingidi, at the foot of the mountain containing Yogichata in Keonjhar district for enshrining of Jaina Sāsanadevi and Tirthankara figures. This shrine is dedicated to Ramachandi in view of the fact that it contains some Ambikā figures which are locally called Chandi Thakurānı. It is a square structure with a flat roof and an entrance in front. The stone pedestal near the back wall of the chamber is set with three Ambikā figures. The front wall in its outer face also has a stone pedestal intervened by the door steps for installation of Tirthařkara images found nearby. This structure has been recently built by the local people. This has been completely plastered and given a thick coat of lime.
