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Jaina Temples of Western India
an octagon and supported the dome on an octa-ndapa, but the kirttimukha-band on the circular gonal frame of architraves. The pillars and section of the shaft is absent here and the brackets architraves are similar to those seen in the mukhama- of the capitals carry kicaka as well as kirttimukha.
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KANTHKOT
MAHAVIRA TEMPLE
It consists of a mulaprāsāda, a gūḍhamaṇḍapa and a rangamanḍapa. Originally, the rangamandapa had three porches, two of which on the lateral sides have now disappeared. The temple faces north. The whole temple is much weather-worn and is but a wreck; its eastern wall has even fallen down (Figs. 117-118).
Malaprāsāda
It is tryanga on plan, the bhadra comprising seven planes, and the karna and the pratiratha having five planes each. The karna and pratiratha are not only equilateral but they also have the same proportion. Between the angas are saliläntaras. The saliläntaras between the kargas and pratirathas are reinforced with konikas which do not run in the pitha. The frontal karya and pratiratha are transmuted in a buffer wall which separates the gudha mandapa from the sanctum.
In elevation it is divided into five components, namely piha, sedibandha, jaghi, arayika and Sikhara. The pitha consists of two bhiṭṭas-the lower being plain and the upper being decorated with a strip of diamonds-, a jāḍyakumbha,a karṇikā,an antarapatra decorated with stepped diamonds, a grasapaṭṭi, a gajathara and a narathara. The vedibandha pertains to a khura, a kumbha carrying sculptures of lalitäsana goddesses such as Ambika, Cakreśvari, etc., on the body and indented foliage on the shoulder, a kalafa decorated with beaded garlands and resettes, an antarapatra embellished with diamond-and-double volute pattern, and a kapota bearing udgama pattern on the upper edge and leaves on the lower. Supported by a mañcikā bearing representations of caitya-arches and kirttimukhas on the upper half and lambanas and leaves on the lower half, the jangha carries framed figures of standing gods and goddesses, all now badly damaged. The images on the karnas appear to be those of the dikpalas. The jangha on each bhadra bears a projecting sculptured niche
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containing an image of Jina seated in dhyanamudra. The niche on west has alone survived. Outside the niche on each flank is a female attendant and behind her is an elongated half diamond. The jangha sculptures are surmounted by udgama pediments bearing figures of squated monkeys on the sides. The udgama in its turn is followed by a deep fillet carved with kirttimukhas and by a round fluted bharani clasped by drooping foliage. The sarapika consists of a kapota and a ribbed eave-cornice.
The fikhara has gone, but from the fragments strewn there it appears that it was of the multiturreted type and was enmeshed with a lattice of caitya-arches. Its rathika at the base were flanked by ornate balcony models. One rathika shelters an image of four-armed lalitasana goddess carrying lotuses in her upper two hands and a pitcher and is flanked on each side by a female cauri-bearer. an indistinct object in the lower ones. The goddess
to that of the gudhamandapa, is dilapidated and its The doorframe of the sanctum, which is similar ornamentations abraded. On each side of the door
is an emptied niche. Though the image of Mahāvira in the sanctum is missing, there are inscriptions which attribute the dedication to Mahavira.106 Gadhamandapa
It is also tryanga on plan and shares its pitha and mandovara with the sanctum, but here the bharant is replaced by a narathara which depicts horse-riders, elephants with drivers, warriors and fighters. The west bhadra-niche here contains an image of Ambikä seated in lalitäsana on her lion mount. Of the four-armed goddess three hands are broken off, but the fourth holding a child in her lap is preserved. It is roofed by a samvaraṇā which is completely gone, Above the wall the samvarana is introduced by a kirttimukha-band; on the bhadra an additional but similar band introduces the roof,
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