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CHAPTER 8
Description of Plates
1.
The general view of the Mahāvīra temple from the northwest shows the exterior beginning from the mukhamandapa or entry-hall, the girdle of conjoined devakulikās or subsidiary shrines including the western bhadraprāsāda at the hall's transept, the western entry-porch and the connected kota/prākāra or enclosing wall beginning where the row of shrines ends. The appearance of the ensemble is neither imposing nor appealing. The overall view of the so-called śāntinātha temple (Ādinātha Phase II) from northwest. Unlike the Mahāvīra temple, at the main entry passage, it shows a mukhacatuṣkī-porch instead of the mukhamandapa, the rest of the structure, though a little smaller in overall size, in disposition is similar to the Mahāvīra temple.
Another view of the Sāntinātha complex, now from southeast, shows the opening, sans porch, at its eastern aspect.
4. Pārsvanātha temple, from northwest. In terms of its plan and elevation, it
essentially reminds of the preceding two buildings except for the balānaka
hall at the north-end which is provided also with an upper floor. 5. Even with its sikhara of a later date, the site's centrally located temple of
Nemi-nātha with its storied balānaka, as viewed from the north, dominates the
entire group of temples as well as the total panorama by its size and loftiness. 6. The east aspect of the Neminātha temple complex with its bhadraprāsāda
which, despite large size, for its exterior is as austere as the preceding three temples. The crenellated parapet above some devakulikās is a later addition.
1.
The profile view from east, of the so-called Sambhavanātha temple (originally sāntinātha), the fifth and the least elaborate of the Jaina foundations at the site. Its internal arrangement of the halls is exposed to view because of the absence of shielding entourage of the devakulikās.
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