Jaina Monuments of Andhra

Author(s): G Jawaharlal
Publisher: Sharada Publishing House Delhi

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Jaina Monuments of Andhra
record (Fig-5). Though the antiquity of Adinatha temple goes to the Rashtrakuta period (i.e., 9th century A.D.), the present structure appears to be a recent one in view of the periodical renovations and repairs done (Fig: 5-A).
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Danavulapadu in Jammalamadugu taluka of Cuddapah district is one of the early Jaina centres in Andhra. It is a tiny village situated along the road from Proddutur to Jammalamadugu and became a deserted village, lying burried under the sand-dunes of the Pinakini river. Excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1903 yielded a large number of antiquities associated with Jainism.15 They include finely carved pedestals, pillars, images of Tirthankaras and their Sasanadevatas and nishidi memorials. Further, about 12 inscriptions datable from 8th century onwards have been found. One of them belongs to the time of the Rashtrakuta King Indra III (c. 914928 A.D.) and records the death by vow of Sallekhana, of the great Commander of the forces, Sri-Vijaya." Further, excavations also yielded a single chamber of Parsvanatha (Fig-6). At present the site contained few burried structures and some scattered architectural pieces. Other finds are the portable type of Chaumukha, a large-sized Parsvanatha, beautifully carved Yakshini image, a water-chute and nishidi memorials, now on display in Govt. Museum, Chennai. Two templebasements bearing Rashtrakuta architectural features were found at the site (Fig-7). They comprise of a garbhagriha, antarala, and rectangular mandapa. The relics and the temple-basements found at Danavulapadu form the best examples of the Rashtrakuta workmanship.
As a matter of fact, there are no intact structural monuments of early Jainism in Andhra. Indeed, even the standing structures do not reveal their antiquity, due to their ruined condition. The medieval period, with the rise of the Chalukyas of Kalyana, witnessed a spectacular growth in temple architecture in Andhra, when innumberable Jaina temples were built. For example, Jaina temples at Kambadur, Amarapuram, Agali, Ratnagiri in Anantapur district and Chinnatumbalam and Chippagiri in Kurnool district belong to this period i.e., 11th-13th century.