Osiaji Mahavira Temple

Author(s): Rabindra J Vasavada
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Plate 2 : The Plan of the complex after the modifications of early seventies, when
the entrance areas were modified and the new entrance hall was built expanding its size and also levelling the entire area for larger gatherings. The new Hall in the entrance area is also assembled using fragments of the older pillars which must have been salvaged fromn the earlier structure of the entrance area which was dismantled to make room for the larger hall in the entrance. The pillars of the new Hall on south side are all assembled out of the older half pillars which must have existed forming the kakshasana of the older mandapa. There is one pillar in the mandapa which still has an original inscription, which is the fragment of an older pillar from the original structure. The northeastern periphery is also enlarged and restructured with additional land added in that side and the Devakulika , which was repositioned and connected with the east side of the new mandapa. In the main Mahavira temple the original trika is merged into a larger new mandapa attached to the main temple. During this renovations the roof of the mukhamandapa attached to the main shrine was also repaired as the chatushki pillars had shown structural decay. These pillars were replaced partially ( as explained through photographs) and the roof of the mandapa repaired along with the new mandapa roof. Also note the addition of a new entrance porch on the main entrance to the street.
This porch is jutting out of the periphery on road. Plate 3 : Enlarged plan of the remodelled Mahavira Temple after the renovations
proposed by the sompura under Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi, Ahmadabad in early seventies. Note the addition of the new enlarged mandapa merging the original trika in front of the mukhamandapa. The level of the floor of the new mandapa retained the original entrance steps of the trika, which were part of the original trika. Parts of the older structure are used in the pillars of the new mandapa and it is confirming the old practice of reusing the older parts in newer additions. Threse parts are visible in the photographs of the mandapa and are also shown in the details of the pillars. In comparing the external profile of the mukhamandapa on the western side (north-west and south-west corners) one observes the difference in its plinth moulding and superstructure as it is not exactly symmetrical along the projected kakshasana. This type of variations in details may not have been a matter of great concern to the master builders and to some extent it might also subscribe to the inner content of the niches in the mukhamandapa corners where different imagery constiututed the