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Jaina Temples of Western India
inner face of the second course is similar to the first one, but its underside shows a band of lotus petaland-bud ornament on each side and a series of four usual circular kolas at each corner. The third is similar to the second. The fourth is almost a true stepped diamond, carrying a lambana formed of stepped diamond at each of four points of its soffit. The padmafila consists of two courses. The first has eight whorls of four-fold (3+1) kola. The second is like a pendant consisting of stepped diamond; this resembles to some extent the Nandiévaradvipa. The square frame lifting up the ceiling is carved with a band of kirttimukhas. Nanavati and Dhaky have identified it with a kṣiptotkṣipta ceiling of the kamalodbhava order displayed in an unusual pattern and depth.62
Devakulika 47A-Rectangular on plan it is a kşipta ceiling of the nabhicchanda order. It is represented by twelve depressed lūmās arranged eastwest in four lines of three each. Each lima consists of a quatrefoil and a circular kola. The rectangular frame raising up the ceiling is carved with a band
of kirttimukhas.
47B-This is a kşipta ceiling of the nabhicchanda order. It is built on a rectangular plan, but its space is reduced to a square by a framework of four rectangular slabs placed over the architraves. The inner face of the frame is carved with ardhapadma pattern, while its underside on the two shorter sides is adorned with half diamonds. The square part of the ceiling contains nabhicchanda element which is represented by sixteen depressed lūmās arranged in four lines of four each. Each lūmā is square in shape and consists of an eight-foil and a circular kola.
Devakulika 48A-Square on plan this ceiling consists of two square courses and a rectangular padmafila. The first consists of padma decorated with stencil-cut flamboyant pattern and surmounted by a band of projecting leaves. The second is similar to the first. The padmafila consists of three courses. The first has an eighteen-foil kola. The second consists of an eight-foil kola accommodated in a lozenge and edged with reverse gajatalu. The third pertains to a lozenge-shaped quatrefoil kola cut out with an oval-shaped kola. The ceiling is raised up by a square frame of four rectangular slabs carved with ardhapadma pattern,
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48B-Square on plan this ceiling consists of three courses. The first is octagonal. It shows decoration of lotus scrolls on the inner face and a kirttimukha at each corner on the underside. The second, circular in shape and projecting out into the space of the ceiling, depicts a band of geese on the inner face and a band of lotus petal-and-band ornament on the underside. The third is also circular. Its circular flat surface represents mandaraka element in four concentric circular bands. Each of the first three circles consists of sixteen-foil kola, while the central circle contains a stellate (sixteenpointed) mandaraka flower. In the centre of the central circle is a stamenal tube clasped by two rows of petals and inserted in a deeply set circular kola. The ceiling is raised up by a square frame of four rectangular slabs adorned with a strip of diamonds.
The passage across the corridor, near the main entrance, consists of three bays, each containing an ornate ceiling. These ceilings are not built on the
same level surface as those found in the corridor
but are raised up by pillar-capitals placed right above the corridor columns. The spaces between these capitals are filled with carved panels. Each of these ceilings is rectangular on plan, but its space is reduced to a square by a framework of four rectangular slabs placed over the architraves.
The ceiling in the bay near the court is made
up of two courses. The first consists of a square frame representing a strip of diamonds on the inner face, while its underside shows a full-blown lotus flower at each corner and a band of lotus petal-and-bud ornament on each side. The underside on two sides also depicts a band of diamonds and beads. The second is samatala. Its square flat surface displays, one within the other, three square bands. The outer band depicts a band of lotus petal-and-bud ornament on each side and a depressed luma consisting of a quatrefoil and a circular kola at each corner. The intermediate band is similar to the outer one. The inner band depicts a quatrefoil kola and a circular plaque of reverse gajatālu carrying flower bud on its tip. The inner face of the square frame raising up the ceiling is decorated with ardhapadma pattern, while its underside on two sides shows a band of lotus petals
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