Jaina Temples of Western India

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

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Jaina Temples of Western India
underside on each of the two shorter sides bears images of standing goddesses. The front legs of the horses are borne by such figures as dogs. The square part of the ceiling depicts nabhicchanda element in the sama-kşipta form. It is represented by a grid of seventeen depressed lamās arranged diagonally. Besides, there are half lumas on the four sides. Each luma consists of a quarefoil kola and a small stamenal tube terminating in an eight-petalled mandaraka flower.
42B-On plan it follows the preceding ceiling, but in structure it is samatala. The inner face of the square frame is adorned with a row of lions, while its underside on each of the two shorter sides depicts Gaja-Laksmi. The square flat surface displays, one within the other, three decorative square bands. The outer square band shows a whorl of four-fold (3+1) kola at each corner and three foils of kola on each side. The intermediate band has an eight-foil kola. The inner band represents three concentric bands of eight-foil, quatrefoil and circular kolas. In the centre of the circular kola is inserted a stamenal tube clasped by one row of petals. Each of the three square bands is edged with reverse gajatālu. The whole is placed in a border of gajatālu.
Devakulika 43A-On plan it follows Devakulika 42A, but in structure it is samatala. The inner face of the square frame carries images of lalitasana goddesses, while its underside on each of the two shorter sides is decorated with three creeper medallions. The square flat surface is divided into three concentric bands, the outer and the intermediate being square and the central being circular. The outer square band consists of sixteen-foil kola, while the intermediate one pertaints to eight-foil kola. The circular central panel represents a quatrefoil kola and a stamenal tube clasped by one row of petals. The whole is placed in a border of foliate scrolls which are overlapped by pieces of
four-fold (3+1) kola placed on the sides of the outer square band. Outside the scroll-band border, on the two sides, is a goose-band.
43B-Rectangular on plan it is samatala, but its space is reduced to a square by the usual framework of placing four rectangular slabs over the
architraves. The inner face of the square frame shows fighting scenes and figures of Maladharas, dancers, musicians and warriors, while its underside on each of the two shorter sides depicts three voluted lotus scrolls filled with figures of Kinnara, Maladhara and lalitasana goddess. The square flat surface is boldly relieved with an image of sixteenarmed goddess Acchuptă sitting in the lalita pose on a stool (Fig. 18). The goddess carries chain, ring, goad, noose, arrow, jakbyānamudrā, paratu and conch in the right hands, and chain, trumpet(?), danda, bow, vajra, pitcher, club and abhayamudra in the left ones. She is accompanied on each side by a female cauri-bearer. Her horse mount is represented below her left leg. Below is also seen a band of lotus scrolls that issue from the mouth of a kirttimukha carved in the centre, while above are hovering Vidyadharas showering abhiseka water on goddess or making music,
Devakulika 44A-On plan and in structure it is similar to the preceding ceiling. The inner face of the square frame is adorned with a row of horseriders, while its underside on each of the two shorter sides depicts three cross-shaped niches containing images of lalitasana goddesses, and Kinnaras filling in at the corners. The front legs of the horses are carried by monkeys, geese, ganas and bulls. The square flat surface shows similar representations as we notice in Devakulika 36A, but at the four corners of the square are shown creepers and the border of flamboyant design is conspicuous by its absence here.
44B-On plan and in structure it corresponds to Devakulika 43B. The inner face of the square frame is decorated with a row of lions, while its underside on each of the two shorter sides repre. sents three lotus medallions, each having two rows of petals, the petals of the outer row being set up in beaded semi-circles. The square flat surface is boldly relieved with an image of sixteen-armed
goddess Sarasvati sitting in lalitasana on a stool, 36 She holds lotus, danda, noose, conch, viņā, varadamudra, abhayamudra and lotus in the right hands, and lotus, vina, some musical instrument, goad, fruit, abhayamudrā with akṣamāla, book and pitcher in the left ones. To the right of the goddess is a six-armed male dancer and to her left is a six