Jainism in Rajasthan

Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 23

124
JAINISMI IN RAJASTHAN
or less adorned with sculpture. Most of these cells contain the images of the Tīrtharkaras. The lofty basement and the great elevation of the principal domes produce a favourable impression from the external sight. But this grcatest defect of this building is the want of ornamentation on their exterior faces which beautify the Hindu temples.
“The immense number of parts in the building, and their general smallness, prevents its laying claim to anything like architectural grandeur; but their variety, their beauty of detail--no two pillars in the whole building being exactly alike-the grace with which they are arranged, the tasteful admixture of domes of different heights with flat ceilings and the mode in which the light is introduced, combine to produce an excellent effect. Indeed, I know of no other building in India, of the same class, that leaves so pleasing an impression or affords so many hints for the graceful arrangement of colums in an interior".1
CHATURMUKHA AND SAMAVASARAAN STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE: The Chanmukha or Chaturmukha style of Jaina architecture also started during this period. It seems to be an imitation of Chaturmukha Sivalinga of the Hindus. It denotes four images of a Tīrthamkara placed on one and the same pedestal back to back so as to face the four cardinal directions. It therefore presupposes that not only the sanctum in which such a chaturmukha is installed but also the enclosing wall should have four doors facing the four images.
Such a chaturmukha type of temple was built by Poravāda Mahājana Dhannā Setha in 1440 A.D. at Ranpur during the reign of Kumbhakarana. The shrine in this temple is occupied by a quadruple image and is open on the four sides, each facing an image. There is also a similar shrine on the upper storey accessible by four doors. The lower and the principal shrine has no closed hall but only a small porch called mukhamandapa. Further,
there is an open assembly hall on a lower level, approached by a flight of på stairs on cach side. Outside this flight of stairs is an open porch and above
fit is a nalamandapa. Facing the sides of each of the mukhamardapas of th. This jucipal shrine is a large subsidiary shrine and facing each sabhūmandapa is a
llcr subsidiary shrine. Around these four shrines are four groups of domes 1 ARk on about 420 columns. The central ones of each group-four in 3 Archai
Annals History of Indian and Eastern Architecture, pp. 241-242,