________________
Description of Plates
137
44. An octagonal belt containing eight panelled figures, largely surasundarīs,
above the janghā section of the northern of the central pair of rangamandapa's front pillars. One of the figures, exhibiting an easy and elegant dvibhanga posture, one often meets within the examples of the 11th century.
45.
The soffit of one of the lintel of the rangamandapa displaying a thick petalled, heavy, but well-formed lotus.
46.
The ūrmivallī or kalpavallī carving at the soffit of the southern extension of the central ceiling of the rangamandapa is one of the earliest of its kind in western India. Later, the entire ceiling, of the Samatala category and filled by this motif, offering a gorgeous view occurs in the trika of the Vimala-vasahi temple (Delvādā, A.D. 1145), Shaykh Farīd's tomb, Pāțan (early 14th century, now in Government Museum, Vadodarā), the Kharatara-vasahī, west porch, on Mt. Satruñjaya (c. A.D. 1320), the Caturmukha Dharaña-vihāra in Rānakpura (c. A.D. 1450), and the Djum'a Masdjid at Campāner (A.D. 1508).
47. Identical theme, carved as a space-filler, occurs on the corresponding soffit, at
the northern extension.
48. The vikarna-vitāna showing a large grāsamukha set in an asymmetrical
triangular frame bearing a beautifully stylized vallī.
The central karotaka ceiling of the rangamandapa is one of the few earliest extant Sabhāmandāraka karotaka-vitāna.
50.
The closer view of the same ceiling more discernibly reveals the four-whorled or catus-kola structure of the imposing central pendant growing from, and emerging out of the rippling bands of the surrounding, multiple, highly relieved kola elements is the only vitāna of its kind for the depth of the kolas and what is more, looks larger than its actual size.
51.
The same vitāna as beheld above from the centre of the floor. It provides the full view of all successive layers and laminae of the standard set of ceiling-mouldings and associated decoration for the Sabhāmandāraka class of vitānas. The disposition of the staggering lobes of each of the multi-lobed kolas in each circular chain is unparalleled as the study of such vitānas in the extant temples and about two dozens or more, now forming the parts of the mosques in Ahmedabad, Khambhāta, Prabhāsa, Pāțan, and other places.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
