Some Early Jaina Temples in Western India

Author(s): M A Dhaky
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_

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SOME EARLY JAINA TEMPLES IN WESTERN INDIA : 319
above, stands a figure of Jivantasyāmi Mahavira in a finely carved niche on all the four faces. The shaft proper starts with an octagonal belt containing eight panels, each one bearing a seated Jina figure. The belt with sixteen faces above shows crisply carved, flaming leaves with a vidyadhara bracket on each one of the four cardinal points. The circular section which now follows, shows a rūpadhārā (figural belt), a vine pattern, and the grāsapattikā followed by bharaṇi (abacus) and taranga sirsa (roll bracket). The lintel above is featured with a vine design and a band of half lotuses. The kūtacchädya (ribbed awning) covers the top of the lintel. A tilaka crowned by a ghanță is placed at each of its two extremities; while, in the centre, a large tilaka showing addorsed Jina figures serve the dedicatory purpose of the Torana. A large peacock turning its head to the back is placed on either side of the central tilaka; similar smaller ones occur at the extremities beside the tilakas there. Over the tilakas is thrown a graceful andola-mālikā in lieu of the illikā-valana we commonly notice in Gujarat examples.
(5-8) Devakulikās
The two pairs of Devakulikās, one to the east (facing west) and the other to the west (facing east) seem at first sight exactly alike; the differences among them of details, despite the sameness of plan (a tri anga Latina-ekāņdaka-shrine with a mukhacatuṣki) and size, the shrine in each case being 3.048 M in diameter.
The northern Devakulikā (No. 1) of the eastern pair possesses a pitha with an almost ideally complete set of mouldings. Above the kharaśilā (foundation cap) carved on the face with half lotuses, comes bhitta decorated with half diamonds followed by jädyakumbha carved with simple lotus leaves; at each of the three bhadras is found an udgama motif soldered with jadyakumbha as found with the earlier temples at Nadol. Now comes karnikā (knife-edged moulding) followed by grāsapattikā, chajjikā, gajapīțha, and ncrapīķha.
The northern Devakulikā of the eastern pair possesses a pītha with an almost ideally complete set of mouldings.
At each pratiratha, the kumbha of the vedibandha shows half lotus as in the earlier temple-of Navalakhā Pārsvanātha—at Pali. The kumbha at each bhadra shows a figure of a Vidyādevī; Rohini, Acchuptā, and Vairoty, can be identified. Kumbha on one of the karņas shows figure of Ambikā. Kumbha on the southern kapilā shows Brahmaśānti. Yakşa. The corresponding northern one shows Yakşi Cakreśvari.