Jaina Shrines In India

Author(s): O P Tandon
Publisher: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Vovernment of India

Page 47

Faina Shrines in India
entire areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The on the Vedika and pitha portions. The havoc caused by vandalism was immense principal doorframe bears besides Jina and it led to a comparative decadence in as the lalata-bimba, Ganga and Yamuna, the monumental art of the period. It is, the Vidya-devis and dwarapalas. There is however, praiseworthy that the monu- another Jaina shrine at Chittorgarh in the ments and sculptures of the period could satbis-deodi which belongs to the same preserve, though sporadically, the old spirit. period. Dedicated to Adinātha, all the An interesting treatise on architectural divisions of the temple are finely laid. science, the Vastusara was written by a Jaina
Though early in execution (1147 A.D.) author, Thakkura-Pheru in the time of
the Phalodhi Pārsvanátha temple in Marwar Alauddin Khalji. The work appeared in
may be assigned to the medieval period for 1315 A.D. This was undoubtedly an
its added glory conveived in renovations attempt at the preservation of the tradition
at different stages. In Jaisalmer fort is of architectural principles, ingrafting as it
found a temple complex consisting of the does. the plan and elevation of a nagara Lakshman-Vihara dedicated to Pärsvanatha temple of north Indian style in west Indian
(1417 A.D.), the temple of Sambhavanatha idiom. In the time of Rana Kumbha, Jaina
na Kumbna, Jaina (1431 A.D.), the temple of Chandraphabha temples were built at Chittor, specially
(1453 A.D.) and the temple of Santinātha dedicated to Adinatha. The Jaina temple
(1480 A.D.). of Samara Singha on Girnar Hill (1438 A.D.) and the subsequent temples of Sam
The Bikaner group of temples consist pratiraja 1435 A.D.) and Malaka-Vasahi
hi of the Pārsvanātha temple, built in the 16th (1455 A.D.) on the same hills, speak of
century A.D., the Chintamani Rao Bikaji
centur the late phase of Jaina composition in which
temple of Adinátha, erected in 1505 A.D. a combination of Solanki and nagara temple
and the temple of Neminátha constructed styles remained predominant.
in 1536 A.D. Rshabhanatha temple at
Achalgarh (1510 A.D.) is famous for its Some of the most famous temples of
architecture. The Jaina temple at ChandRajasthan belong to this category of Jaina
kedi in Kota of the 17th century and the building art. Chittor claims to have been
Patodi's temple, established some time one of the foremost centres of medieval
during the 17th-18th century, follow the Jaina architecture. The Kirti-stambha of
patterns of Bikaner and Jaisalmer temple
patterns Rana Kumbha is decidedly a victory tower
art. which was accomplished and rebuilt during I n the extreme regions of West India, Rana Kumbha's time in 14th century (Pl. there are some remarkable temples, besides XI). From the structural point of view, those at Girnar, the complex at Miyani the Sringara-chauri Santinātha temple at famous for the Rshabhanátha temple built Chittor (built in 1448 A.D.) is perhaps of in the 13th century, Kathiakot in Kutch greater interest as having a large garbha- for its Jaina temple of the C. 13th Century, griha installed on a pancharatha plan with Thana in Saurashtra known for two Jaina attached Chatushki to its north and west shrines of early medieval period. The sides. The temple exterior contains much series extends to Vadnagar, Sajakpur and elaborate iconographic designs and figures Phadresvara in Kutch and Nadola, Nadlai including reliefs of dik-palas, apsaras, and Jalor group of Jaina temples, all of Sardulas on the fangha and gay depictions which were built in the early medieval of animal and human figures carved age.