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_

Page 32

SOME EARLY JAINA TEMPLES IN WESTERN INDIA: 321
known in the temples at Chohtan. The lintels supporting the ceiling betray typical diamond-and-double volute pattern such as known. from the porch of the Sun temple, Mudhera. The ceiling itself is of Nabhicchanda order. The pair of pillars shows finely carved camarabearers on their frontage.
The pancaśäkha doorframe comprises patraśakha with a deeply carved foliate scroll, rūpāśākhā, rūpastambha, again rūpaśākkā, and lastly the bahyaśakha showing a variant foliate scroll.
The rupastambha panel harbour Vidyadevis, four in either instance Rohini, Prajñapti, Vajraśṛnkhala, Manasi: and, Acchuptă, Vairotyä, and Yakşi Nirvāņi etc.
The uttaranga harbours Pārsvanatha in the centre flanked by. three seated Vidyadevis on either side; among them Cakreśvari, Rohini, Mahāmānasi and Manavi may be discerned.
Samvarana with three rathikās tops the porch.
The northern Devakulikā (No. 2) of the western pair (Fig. 7) is almost a duplicate of the Devakulikā No. 1 in the eastern pair. The jāḍyakumbha of its pitha, however, does not show udgama motif on bhadra points; and, in mukhacatuski section, chajjikä is followed by gråsapaṭṭikā.
The Vidyadevis, Yaksis and other Jaina goddesses on the kumbha faces of the vedibandha include Sarasvati, Naradatta, Mahākāli, Vairotyä, Cakreśvari, Acchuptā, Ambikā, Vajraśṛnkhala aad others.
The jangha shows the usual Dikpälas and apsarases. Jivantasvami too is found on the kapili parts. The bharani above the jangha is round and decorated with leaves in suspension. The pillars of the mukhacatuski show câmara bearers as in the last-noted example. They support a Nabhicchanda vitana. The pañcaśākha doorframe displays a deeply carved creeper on its patraśākha; the latter is followed by a rupaśākhā, rūpastambha, a rūpaśākhā yet again, and bahyaśākhā with a beautiful creeper.
The Vidyadevis on the rupastambha include Prajñapti, Vajrasṛnkhala, Vajrānkusi, Cakreśvari, Nirvāņi, Acchuptă, Vairotyä and one more who cannot be identified.
The Jina figure is as usual found in the central panel of the uttaranga. The Vidyadevis here include Mahāmānasi, Mahākāli, Rohini, Acchupta and others.
The Silchara above the shrine proper is of the Latina class similar in details to that of No. 1. The rathikas of the samṁvaraṇā or the porch harbour seated Jina figures.
G.J.V. 21