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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
inticrataly carved pediments at intervals. The eave is superimposed with an arched member architecturally known an Illikālavana carved in floral pattern and decked with chained hanging kalasa at the central arch.
The Väva runs for south to north-the approach being at the south end; and from the back of the irrigation shaft at the north end to the extreme south of the masonry it is 215 feet in length. The irrigation shaft is 17 feet in diameter, the width of the landing platform is 23 feet. The main octagonal shaft is 28 feet in diameter. To this a spiral stair descends on each side, the canopies above this entrance possibly have been destroyed. The well is nearly 55 ft. deep.
The vedikās and the beams supporting them are highly ornate. In the carving and design they are similar to those of the first landing at the entrance. The pillars supporting these are simple. The beams over the octangonal frame is divided mainly in two horizontal fiezes, the lower one being in floral pattern, the upper one carved in inverted hemispherical sections insetted with full-blown lotus design. Above this rests the cornice carved support the vedikā or railing proper divided in ornate vertical offsetted panel.
Horizontally, the Vāva is divided into seven sections. The first on the north is occupied by the first landing opened through descents of three sides. The subsequent three sections are composed of storied landing interspaced by the flight of steps. The descents of the stair are gentle, every fifth steps being of double breadth, and the height of the landing from floor to floor is about 11'-6".
Among these storied sections, the first is two-storied the second three-storied and the fourth one is four-storied structure. Thus vertically, the Vāva contains four kutas and two wells, octagonal and round ones. Between the principal octagonal well and the round irrigation well, there is an architectural device known as antarāla (Vestibule) which connects both the wells probably by means of sluice.
There are carved niches on the walls of each storied landing from floor to floor. These niches contains beautiful floral patterns especially those of fully blommed lotus having the layers of 8,16,24 or 32 petals from the centre of which hangs the chained cirāga surrounded again with floral designs, and kalpalatā design. One of the niches contains the vertical series of pots placed one over other, while the other one has a figure of some Hindu diety which is very much defaced. The principal well contains a spiral stair-case on it as west wells, while there are small stairs on both the sides of each storied landing.
The second, third and fourth storied landings have six free standing pillars and six pilasters from floor to floor. These landings are, again, interspaced by means of a narrow landing composed of two double pilasters from floor to floor.
In the second gallery on the right side of the octagonal wall, over a door leanding to the spiral stair, that ca
he spiral stair, 'that' comes down from the ground level is a feieze carved with the SOME UNIQUE STEP-WELLS AND TANKS OF GUJARATAND RAJASTHAN
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