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CHAPTER IV
CHARACTERISTICS AND CHRONOLOGY AND CHRONOLOGY
On the basis of a comparative study of various architectural designs, the style and modelling of sculptures, and the development of the decorative motifs and iconographic features, coupled with
This group is represented by two temples, viz. the Adinatha temple at Vadnagar and the Jaina temple at Than. Both these are small structures built on a simple plan displaying only a sanctum and a mandapa. Their pitha and vedibandha mouldings are bold and simple and carry very little ornamentation. Their jangha is plain, but for the sculptured niches which are preserved only in the devakulikās of the Adinatha temple. Except for the doorframe, their interior is also plain. All these characteristics distinguish the temples of this group from those of the later one and place them in the same category as the Surya and the Śiva temples at Kotai (Kutch) and the Munibāvā temple at Than. Although these temples are characterised by a simple plan and design and have a plain exterior and interior, they reveal some such traits as the tryanga sanctum, sculptured niches on the jangha and the devakulikās, which become the essential elements of the Solanki Jaina temples of Gujarat. The pyramidal superstructure, which has survived only in the Jaina temple at Than, is also a characteristic of the Jaina temples of Abu. Chronologically, the Adinatha temple precedes the Jaina temple at Than. ĀDINĀTHA TEMPLE AT VADNAGAR
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PRE-SOLANKI TEMPLES
Judging the form of kirttimukhas on the grasapatti and the capital of the ripastambha, Dhaky dates the older portion of the temple to the late 10th century A.D. and the remaining portion to the 13th century A.D. As regards the date of the older portion, it may be pointed out that there are certain features which do not favour the above
literary and inscriptional evidences, the Jai na temples of Gujarat of the period under review may broadly be divided into two groups, namely PreSolanki and Solanki.
dating. The bold and vigorous kirttimukhas on the grasapatti (Fig. 1) are comparable with those appearing on the Raṇakadevi temple at Wadhwan and the Ambikä temple at Jagat (circa 925 A. D.). The capital of the ripastambha also corresponds to that of the Rāṇakadevi temple. The jaḍyakumbha is similar to that of the Śiva and the Surya temples at Kotai, the latter attributable to Lakhā who was a contemporary of Muūlarāja I (941-998 A.D.). The antarapatra and kapota are exactly similar to those found in the Trinetresvara temple at Than. The rosettes of the khura moulding of the vedibandha are reminiscent of those seen on the rajasenaka of the Lakṣmaṇa temple at Khajuraho (circa 950 A.D.). The representation of two-armed goddesses on the ripastambha is also an old feature. From these it appears that the temple was built during the early part of the 10th century. The absence of kumuda on the pitha is a strong negative evidence to show that the temple was built earlier than the Surya temple at Kotai and the Ambika temple at Jagat.
Dhaky's dating of the other portions is also not tenable. Sompura ascribes them to the 12th century A. D. Commenting on the observations of Dhaky he writes that the temple was renovated in the 13th century A. D. In support of his argument he cites the testimony of an inscription which, according to him, bears the aforesaid date and is engraved on the kumbha of the pitha of the temple at its southwest corner. But Sompura is not correct. There is no such record on the pitha of the temple. He has wrongly associated the aforesaid inscription with this temple. Stylistically, these portions very closely resemble those of the Hatha
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