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JAIN TEMPLES OF JAISALMER
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mandap. On the roof of sabha mandap the carving of the dancers have been arranged in such a manner as to give the impression of a dance. The colouring of the poses of the dances have added to their beauty. An image of a man with one head and five lower portions of the body looks similar from all directions. There are few pillars in the front of sabha mandap. In between these pillars and torans different types of images are carved out. As there are nine torans here the temple is also known as Notorania temple'. There are four slabs of yellow stone, with a height of 5 x 411/2 feet, on these slabs inscriptions of V.S. 1518 still exist.
Along with a high glistening sikhar there are several low shikhars. All these sikhars present a very attractive look. The garbhgriha and ghud mandap of the temple are also built in accordance with the Gujarat style. In the fifty one Dev Kulikas, of the temple fifty one beautiful images of gods and goddesses are installed. Images of this type are also installed in other Jain temples of Rajasthan including the Dilwara temples of Mount Abu.
On the outer walls of the temple several images have been beautifully carved out. The images of the Jain Tirthankaras are also decorated on the front walls of the temples. Images of young girls in amorous poses can also be seen on these walls.
From the temple of Parsavanath one can go to the other four temples. The architecture of these temples is more or less similar to that of Parshvanath temple.
The temple of Sambhavnatha was built by four Oswal brothers named Shivraj, Maharaj, Lal and Lakhan. It was completed in 1420 A.D. The total number of images in this temple is 604. The rangmandap of the temple is a treat to watch. On the middle of ihe dome of the roof of this temple there is a hanging lotus. It is similar to the
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