Jaina Temples of Western India

Author(s): Harihar Singh
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

Page 61

CHAPTER III
DESCRIPTION OF TEMPLES
As has been seen in Chapter I there were erected Fourthly, the Jaina temples have also suffered a large number of Jaina temples in Gujarat during from the philanthropic outlook of the Jainas. It is the period under review, but the majority of these a very common practice among the Jainas to have temples were destroyed during the course of time. a temple or sculpture built or rebuilt, for it is There were various factors responsible for the spoli- believed that by doing so they fulfil a religious ation of these temples. First of all is the natural need, which is meritorious here and hereafter. It one. When the temples once go out of worship is generally found that wherever the sculptures or there starts growing of plants which penetrating the decorative designs are effaced, they are retouchthe temples cause fissions, and consequently the ed during the repairs, and if some parts are broken monuments soon fall down and become a jumble of off they are replaced by new ones. Even the repair stone and plant. This invites the people who are is done so skilfully that sometimes it becomes very in need of masonry, and they ignoring the impor- hard to differentiate between the old and new tance of the monument carry away the building works. At some places the temples are covered materials, sometimes leaving nothing at the site. with white lime, while at some other places they This creates problems for us to locate a certain are coated with white pigment. The ceilings of monument at a certain place, which once existed some temples are painted. These produce a bewil. there. The temples which are situated near the dering effect and conceal the originality of the sea-coast have considerably suffered from environ- temples. However, in spite of the little damages ment. Owing to the salt laden waves from the caused by the Jainas their contribution to preserve ocean the temples here have become defaced. The temples is by no means less. Indeed, it is the result heavy rainfall produces moss and lichen, which also of their philanthropic attitude of preserving monudamage temples. Sometimes the terrible earth- ments that the Jaina temples are well preserved to quakes too created havoc and violently pulled down this day, retaining of course many restorations and monuments. A devastating earthquake with its alternations. For this praiseworthy work the Jainas epicentre in Kathiawad occurred at the beginning should be congratulated. of the 19th century.
Secondly, the foreign and continental invasions have considerably damaged the temples. In this respect the Muslims are to be mostly blamed. They not only destroyed the Jaina and Hindu temples alike but plundered them ruthlessly and converted them into mosques.
Thirdly, the internal disturbances have also caused damages to the Jaina temples. The Solanki king Ajayapala being a bigoted Saiva persecuted the Jainas and destroyed their temples.
ÄDINATHA TEMPLE
It consists of a milaprasada, a güḍhamandapa and a mukhamandapa, the whole standing on a jagati which is approached from the east by a flight of steps. The jagati also supports two devakulikäs facing the temple, which once probably had the
In all there are nineteen temples located at as many as thirteen sites (Text Fig. 1). For convenience the temples are described here in the chronological order, but where there are more than one temple, all the temples of that site are describ. ed at one place, putting only the earliest one in the general chronological order, while the remaining temples follow the chronological sequence at the site. Below is given a detailed description of these temples one by one.
VADNAGAR
images of Yaksa and Yakşi of Adinatha. The tem ple faces east. Of the temple, only the pitha and vedibandha are original (Fig. 1), the rest including the whole of mukhamandapa are later additions.