Book Title: Temples of Kumbhariya
Author(s): M A Dhaky, U S Moorty
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Page 126
________________ The Temples in Kumbhāriya image of Jina Vāsupūjya is seen in one of the flanking niches of the interior's eastern bhadra (Plate 224). Also noticed is the image of ārādhaka couple (Plate 225) incongruently placed on the pedestal of a Jina with empty parikara. On the shafts of the pair of polygonal pillars at the entry of the antarāla, are noticeable sketches of the Cámara-bearers. The rangamandapa has relatively plain polygonal pillars of little interest (Plate 214); its ceiling (17 ft. 3 in.) is a plain Jane, save for a rūpakantha bearing a series of half lotuses in hemicycles but without the vidyādhara brackets, the rest of the elevation being made up of a series of plain karņadardarikās. The moulded doorway (Plate 213) leading to the closed hall has a lintel showing sikharikās, three on either side of the central larger one, as done at the Lūņa-vasahi temple's parallel example in Delvādā on Mt. Abu but without its rich, intricate, and delicate carving. Below the lateral śikharikās are panels containing seated Vidyādevīs, the central one displaying the tutelary image of the Jina. The dviśākhā doorframe has a slender stambhaśākhā which is horizontally divided at intervals but carries no carving. The antaraśākhā is of the vallī type. The usual door-guardian figures with their flanking attendant figures are shown at the pedyās. The wall-pilasters, however, are profusely carved, just as they are treated like a rūpastambha flanked by a pair of rūpasākhā. The temple may be dated some year before A.D. 1264 (the date of the niche inscription) but probably some time after A.D. 1232. Jinacandra sūri III as well as poet Meha refer to a temple sacred to Jina Śāntinātha among the five that then existed and still exist. Apparently, by reductio ad absurdum, this Sambhavanātha building, not referred to by the medieval writers as of Sambhavanātha, was that very temple. Who its founder was, is unclear. A late 13th century literary notice elsewhere refers to the 84 Jaina fanes built at different sacred places by Prthvīdhara (Pethada Saha), a minister in Mālavadeśa, in or before A.D. 1264, the list, however, does not allude to Ārāsana even when he is reported to have visited the town while on a pilgrimage to the holy Jaina sites in Gujarat. The possibility of he having his hands in building, however, cannot altogether be ruled out since he was a prolific builder. The Sangameśvara and the Kumbheśvara Mahādeva Temples To the northwest of the Sambhavanātha temple stands this Sivaite marble temple, the only extant Brahmanical shrine. There was one other siva temple at the site, its relics such as the doorframe, the pillars, and a couple of Siva images, had been noticed and Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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