Temples of Kumbhariya

Author(s): M A Dhaky, U S Moorty
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Kumbhāriyā and Contemporary Writings
20. In 1971, the first author of the present monograph, with H.P. Shastri of Prabhas Patan Museum, published an article in Gujarātī, entitled “Ārāsaņa-nā be Jaina pratimā lekho-ni višeșa vācanā,” Svādhyāya, Vol. 8, No. 2, V.S. 2027 (A.D. 1971), pp. 189-198. In this article, the inscription on the pedestal of the cult image of the Mahāvīra temple was read afresh and a couple of gaps in phrases could be filled in. Likewise, the inscription on the Astāpada-prāsāda was read again and a few words could be clarified. (Lakshmanbhai Bhojak and Amrut Patel recently further improved upon our reading.)
21. The first author of this monograph, in "The Western Indian Jaina Temple," Aspects of Jaina Art and Architecture, Eds. U.P. Shah and M.A. Dhaky, Ahmedabad 1975, pp. 319-384, Plates 1-28, discussed the formal aspects of these temples, with particular reference to some ceilings of the Mahāvīra temple (there Plates 8, 12, 14-15, and 20) and the bhadraprāsāda and its pillars in the pattaśālā of the Pārsvanātha temple (there Plate 23), and the views of the interior of Sāntinātha and Pārsvanātha temples (Plates 2 & 3).
22. In the above-cited Aspects of Jaina Art and Architecture (1975), also appears a paper by Harihar Singh with the title "The Jaina Temples of Kumbhāriā,” pp. 299-318, in which the author has described the temples and included some 22 illustrations.
23. Harihar Singh subsequently enlarged upon his above-cited earlier paper in a book entitled Jaina Temples of Western India, Parshvanath Vidyashram Series 26, Varanasi 1982. Here his discussion on the different aspects of Kumbhāriā temples is spread out in different sections. Those who are interested in the enumeration/ description of almost each and every moulding involved in the make up of the exterior and interior will be happy with this book. Of about 38 plates dealing with Kumbhāriā, his plates 22-35 show details of the Mahāvīra temple, 36-45 of Sāntinātha temple, 46-52 of Pārsvanātha temple, 59-65 of Neminātha temple and 110-112 of Sambhavanātha temple.
24. The first author of this monograph, in his article, "Sāhitya ane Silpa-māñ ‘Kalyāṇatraya,” (Guj.) Nirgrantha 1, Ahmedabad 1995, pp. 98-110, Plates 1-4, has identified the Kumbhāriya Neminātha temple's patta of A.D. 1287 (there Plate 2) representing ‘Kalyāṇatraya' on the basis of inscriptions and the āgamic and other literary references.