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The Temples in Kumbhāriyā
Castes and Communities
Several inscriptions mention the castes of the 'vanika' or bania communities to which the śrāvakas and śrāvikās—laymen and women followers—who had set up the images etc., in the temples. The earliest, and the only one, of A.D. 1091 (Insc. 15), refers to the 'Dharkkața-vamśa', a caste of tradesmen which had originated in Rajasthan and in a small number eventually had settled also in Gujarat." In most cases, in the Solanki period beginning from A.D. 1091 (Insc. 16) to A.D. 1333 (Insc. 126, 128, 129, 130), it was the Prāgvāta-vamsa which exclusively figures, reported as it is in all in 37 inscriptions. Next, a single inscription of A.D. 1470 (Insc. 134), mentions 'Gurjara jñāti'; while four dated A.D. 1619 (Insc. 145, 146, 147, 149), refer the kārāpakas to 'Ukeśa (Osvāla)' community and only one of the same date, to śrīmāla-jñāti (Insc. 148).
Temple Components
A few inscriptions incidentally refer to a few architectural terms relating to the major components of the temples. Aside from such general terms as the Jinagpha, ālaya, Jinabhavana, caitya, mandira etc., for the temple proper, there are instances where specific components/adjuncts of the temple are mentioned. For instance, the ‘rangamandapa' of the Neminātha temple is referred to in the inscription of A.D. 1219 (Insc. 122). The same inscription refers to 'dādhādhara', seemingly a mason's colloquial term, possibly for column with lintel, for 'dhara' stands for a pillar, An inscription in the Neminātha temple, of A.D. 1254, refers to the construction of a 'stambha' in the temple's 'mandapa' (Insc. 96). Two inscriptions one of A.D. 1148 (Insc. 80) and the other of A.D. 1152 (Insc. 88)refer to the 'mukhamandapa' of the Neminātha temple, the first one also to the 'khattaka' associated with the mukhamandapa (i.e., 'trika' bonded with the forewall of the closed hall).
An Inscription of A.D. 1125 (Insc. 19) from the Mahāvīra temple (originally from the main sanctuary of the Pārsvanātha temple) refers to the setting up of a toraņa. An inscription on a parikara-toraṇa of A.D. 1231 (Insc. 76) in a devakulikā from the Pārsvanātha temple refers to the setting up of a torana. Eive inscriptions from the Neminātha temple refer to the 'devakulikā' sub-shrine: these are dated to A.D. 1279 and 1282 (Insc. 102, 109, 115, 116, 122). Two inscriptions from the Pārsvanātha temple, one of A.D. 1259 (Insc. 77) and the other with date lost (Insc. 78), also refer to devakulikā.
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