Svasti

Author(s): Nalini Balbir
Publisher: K S Muddappa Smaraka Trust

Page 82

K.M. Suresh, Jaina Tri-kuta Monuments from Karnataka
81
The temple consists of three garbhagrihas in a row and a rectangular mandapa with flight of steps. All the three garbhagrihas are rectangular, the central one enshrines Parsvanatha, the right one enshrines Padmavati and the left one enshrines Kushmandini Yakshi. Above the central garbhagriha has sikhara of Dravida type with dvi-talas and the other garbhagrihas have eka-tala sikhara. The mukhamandapa is rectangular, squarish in appearance with elaborately carved perforated screens of steatite on either side of the shrines. The screens have friezes of narrative panels, revealing the Jaina legends in great details. The entrance doorway side-screens are later additions during the time of Vishnuvardhana of Hoysala period. The adhishthana of the temple consists of upana, jagati, tripatta kumuda, a kantha with kampas and a pattika with prati on top. The bhadra portion has two pairs of pilasters on each side and the side mandapa has two more pilasters. The wall pilasters are brahmakanta, the padmabandha and kambha. The kapota is decorated with kudu arches with trefoil finials and a vyalavar raft on the top. All these courses run right round the two vimanas. The sikhara is adorned by karnapattas with kodikkurukka work.
02. Jaina Temple or Basadi, Arasibidi, Hunugunda Tq. Bagalkot Dist. The temple is situated in the village, facing east, dedicated to Jaina, assignable to the second quarter of 11th, century AD, of Chalukyas of Kalyana, built of red sand stone with a sikhara of Dravida style above the garbhagriha. An inscription dated 1047 A.D., in the reign of Chalukya king Somesvara I, refers to the village name as Vikramapura and to the construction of tri-kuta Jinalaya in the name of god Gunada Bedargi Jinalaya. The temple consists of three garbhagrihas with three antaralas on west, north and south, a common sabhamandapa and an open mahamandapa with mukhamandapa towards east and southern entrances with a fligh of steps. The main western garbhagriha facing east is square and enshrines a seated Jaina Tirthankara on a pitha, which is parly mutilated. The garbhagriha dvara has chatussakhas decorated with creeper scrolls etc., and the lalatabimba is depicted with a Tirthankara. The antarala is square and its doorway is very simple. The antarala is fitted with jalandharas. The garbhagrihas on the north and south are also square and empty at present, but must have enshrined Jaina Tirthankaras. The doorways are similar to that of the western garbhagriha. The antaralas are square, open, and stand on two pillars at the front.
2 SII Vol. IX, Part 1, No. 80.