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Wall Paintings as Depicted in the Patodi Jaina Temple
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The Digambara Jaina temple ( Patodi ) situated in Maniharo Ka Rasta, Modi Khana, Jaipur, is said to be an example of later Jaina temples in northern India and there is a marked influence of later Mughal structural order and is characterized by artistic degeneration'. The builder of this temple was Jodh Raj Patodi and the idol of God Adinātha installed in it. With the shifting of capital, the Gaddi of Bhattārakas' was also shifted to Jaipur in Sarnvat 1815 and temple of Patodiyan became the centre of their activities.
During the time of Sawai Madho Singh i and Sawai Pratap Singho the Jainas were holding the highest posts of administration in the state, including that of Dewanso
It has always been the fascination of the royality of Jaipur to get their palaces, courtyards, chattries, temples painted. The subject matter in these pertain to the pictorial records of their customs, beliefs, mythology and history. We still find numerous such places as examples". Patodi temple is one of them which has painted dome with the subjects relating to the Jaina themes.
The Painted Themes
As one climbs the stairs to reach the temple complex we come across a open courtyard, towards whose centre the salatial Jaina symbols (Aştamāngalika) are found carved in a brass door. The mid ceiling of the dome has lotus petals, the small petals in between and bigger petals spreading out from it in green and red colour scheme, the extensive floral design in it leaves no place unutilized. Down below in an arch format are 16 panels of the places where Tirthankaras attained liberation'? In between these, there are 16 more marble figures of Gandharva's hanging out and eight Vidyādhars painted in between the above two subjects in a circumference with camvara or morchal in one hand and lotus in the other. Identical dress of Dhoti, Dupattā, Mukuta, Bhuja-Bandh-Mālās and Kanthi are worn. Further below is painted the scenes of 16 dreams of 'Tirtharkara-mātā' and 'Pancakalyānaka'13 that is 'The Garbhāvatarana' (descending of Gods head in the embryo ), Janmābhiseka' ( Birth rights ), 'Diksāgrahanaṁ' (Initiation ) : Kevala jñāna, Enlightenment : Mokşa, 'The Siddhacakra' and 'Neminātha's marriage procession scene', is among the beautiful ones painted with the precision of miniature work. just over the pillars eight long narrow panels and in between another 8 squarish shaped panels where Jaina beliefs and scenes of common people worshipping the Jaina Gods, going to Tirthas and celebrating the sacred occassion are depicted. In few of them the details of the scene depicted has been
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