Studies in Jaina Art

Author(s): Umakant P Shah
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 36

A BRIEF SURVEY OF JAINA ART IN THE NORTH
by Kumarapala at Jälor about 80 miles south of Jodhpur is equally interesting. Jaina shrines at Kumbhāria, Dantă State, North Gujarat, belonging to c. 12th & 13th centuries, are noteworthy as some of them contain beautiful ceiling slabs with scenes from the lives of Parsvanatha, Mahāvīra and Santinatha (cf. fig. 83 representing the life of Parsvanatha).
In Mevad an interesting Jaina monument, built in c. 1100 A. D.. and repaired in c. 1450, exists at Chitor in the form of a beautiful Kirttistambha (pillar of glory), about 80 feet high and composed of 8 storeys (fig. 82). The structure belongs to Digambara sect and has a pavilion on the top which probably enshrined a Caumukha image in it. Such pillars or manastambhas,, the mänavakastambhas of the Jaina Canon, set up with images on top and at base, are often erected in front of Jaina temples though none of the extant ones are so magnificent as this specimen, which latter is erroneously called a Kirttistambha. The temple built by Mokalaji is another noteworthy fane at Chitor supposed to have been Jaina originally. A more interesting group is, however, available at Un in the Indore State. The Un temples, similar in plan to the Khajuraho temples, have porches on three sides while the mandapas are conspicuously larger than at the other site. The temples were mostly built by the later Paramāras of Mālvā in the 11th and 12th centuries. Of these the Caubără Deră No. 2 is a magnificent shrine while the Goaleśvara is preserved in an almost perfect condition.
Jaipur and Bikaner States in Rajputână also possess some remains, mainly of Digambara sect, while Jesalmere further north has a group of Svetambara temples of the Moghul period, Udaipur State is famous for the shrines of Adinatha worshipped by both the sects. Gwalior State is very rich. in archæological remains of Digambara sect ranging from the Gupta upto modern times. Of the transitional period interesting temples and sculptures are available at Gyaraspur (Mälåde temple, figs. 61, 62), Badoh and the site of Budhi Canderi. The latter site is also rich in Jaina sculptures of the mediaval period. comparable in style to those of Deogarh fort, and Sironi in Central India. The
1
Progress Report of A. S. I., Western Circle, 1904; A. S. I,. A. R., 190506, pp. 44 ff. Cunningham, op. cit., xxiii, pp. 108 ff.
2 Progress Report, A. S. I., W. C. 1918. pp. 19, ff. A. S. I. R., 1923-24,
P. 47.
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3
Sahani D. R. Archeological remains at Bairat; Nawab, Jaina Satyaprakāśā (Gujarati Journal), VIII, No. 1, pp. 9 ff. For the beautiful Sarasvati from Puilu, Bikaner State, see Kramrisch, Stella, Indian Sculpture, fig, 84. M. B. Garde, (1) Archaeological remains in Gwalior, (2) A Guide to the Archeological Museum, Gwalior, (3) Annual Reports of the Archeological Department, Gwalior State.