Some Early Jaina Temples in Western India

Author(s): M A Dhaky
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308 SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME
The startling truth of these observations and the wisdom of and foresight behind these recommendations are not amiss, now, when we read and re-read the original proceedings where they are recorded. The application of these suggestions-suggestions so sincere in spirit and scientific in outlook-can, and will provide a sounder and yet elastic as well as easily manoeuvrable frame of reference.
We are still not sure what terms we must coin to replace Maurya, or, for that matter, Andhra and Sungan names; those were the times when art and architecture, distinguishable doubtless from region to region to the eyes of an expert, were not so sharply differentiated in much of the outward look throughout the greater part of the subcontinent, or at least wherever such early examples. are known to be extant.31a But by Gupta, and more truly in post-Gupta period, the regional idioms had begun to materialize, to develop, and to attain distinctness of expression. From this time on, we can be positive in dissociating art and architecture from dynastic denominations and think of, say, regional terms colligated ineradicably but abstractly with the time factor, the chronological axis. Apply it, for instance, to Western India, with which we are immediately concerned the results are quite rewarding, satisfying. We begin with the Pratihāra period. Two major styles, "concordant in certain aspects because of common age, but otherwise independent since their parental sources differed "2, existed in the last quarter of eighth century: Osian temples and their congeners in upper
31a After this paper was submitted, I came across an extension of Ghosh's original observation which answers my own remark. "The planning of the survey has necessarily been on a regional and chronological basis: it is only on this basis that the spatial and temporal developments of architectural elements can be brought out. This basis, it is admitted, may tend largely to coincide with a dynastic grouping-a tendency to avoid which precautions have to be taken, for art and architecture should reflect something less ephemeral than dynastic vagaries. At the same time, in cases where all or most of the monuments in a group are the direct outcome of the initiative and patronage of the rulers of a particular dynasty, a dynastic appellation of that group would doubtless be justified." Cave temples of the Pallavas (A. S. T. No. 1).
32 DHAKY, M. A., Brahmanasvami temple at Varman, Journal of the Oriental Institute, Baroda', Vol. XIV, March-June 1965, Nos. 3-4, p. 381.