________________
Conclusion
235
the result of the angular modelling from which the in their delineation and spared no pains in making sculptures of Western India have suffered more them handsome and intelligible. Like the than those in other parts of the country. It appe- ceilings the pillars also are varied and ornate ars that after the Classical flavour had gone, the and have considerably enhanced the beauty of "medieval" trend dominated the scene. In such the interior. Reference may be made here about an environment the artist found little scope to the square pillars disposed in the rangamandapa and delineate his genius, rather he just executed them the mukhamand apa of the temples at Kumbharia and as an object of worship or an embellishment of Abu. From the wealth of carvings, however, one the temple. This is clearly reflected in the port- must not suppose that all this work is overought, rait sculptures of the Jaina temples at Abu. Altho- "but it is rather one of those cases where exubeugh the portrait sculptures are very ugly in rence is beauty." appearence, they provide us valuable information about the dress and ornaments worn by the people
Compared to those in Northern Gujarat, the of those days.
Jaina temples in other parts of the region are less
ornate. It appears that the guilds working in this The Jaina temples show a great many varieties
area, that is the region around Candravati, which in the pillars and ceilings. In fact, it were the
was the capital city of the Paramāras, were more ceilings for which the Jaina temples of Gujarat
competent in building activity. Another possible are justly famous. Such ornate and beautiful
cause of their being ornate may be the building ceilings were built neither earlier nor later, not
material, namely white marble, which is more only in Gujarat but also in the other parts of the
tractable for chiselling and which has been abundcountry. The domical ceilings of the güdhamaydapa
antly used in the temples of this region. and the rangamandapa, particularly the one located in the latter compartment, are splendid. At the very The Jaina temples of Gujarat largely contribute first sight it amazes the onlooker and fixes his eyes to the temple architecture of Western India in in admiration. So far as the näbhicchanda, mandā- particular and Indian temple architecture in generaka, padmaka and Sabhämärga, or their mixed
ral. Of course, the study of the Indian temple varieties, are concerned, the Jaina temples show
architecture would be incomplete without referring as many varieties of these ceilings as to be hardly
to the Jaina temples of Gujarat. These Jaina temnoticed in the Brahmanical temples of Gujarat or ples glorify not only Gujarat but the country as a in any other temples of the country. While whole with such wonderful temples as those standspeaking of ceilings, it is necessary to make men
ing at Abu, Kumbharia, Taranga, Girnar, etc., tion of the samatala (flat) ceilings. These are and bespeak of the grandeur of the Jainas and relieved with various narratives selected from
Jainism.
Jain Jaina mythology. At some places they bear representation of the vegetal world, while at the
References other they depict figures in boxes. These ceilings
1. Fergusson, J., History of Indian and Eastern are exclusively found in the Jaina temples of Architecture, vol. II, Book V. Kumbharia and Abu and are a lithic version of 2. Coomarswamy, A. K., History of Indian and the Jaina paintings of Western India. Indeed, Indonesian Art, reprint, New York, 1965, the artist appears to have taken special interest p. 112.
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