Temples of Kumbhariya

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

Page 84

The Temples in Kumbhāriya
situated in north Gujarat—and the Nīlakantha temple at Miyāņi (A.D. 1204) in Saurāstra, to name a few buildings as typical examples.
The structural adjuncts figuring as the Jaina building's major architectural components are first a 'jagatī' on which the whole articulated complex stands. The complex's main focus is the ‘mūlaprāsāda' or shrine proper/main sanctuary joined, at its front, through the kapilī or pair of buffer walls, with a gūdhamandapa (closed hall) which is next followed by a ‘mukhamandapa', more precisely known as 'trika? (three-bayed open colonnaded forehall) or 'satcatuṣkya' (similar to trika but doubled and thus six-bayed forehall with two rows, fore and rear, of four columns each). It is in turn connected with a rangamandapa or a large 12-pillared open hall. The trika or şatcatuskya then functions as a 'raised on' moulded podium and appears as wall-less vestibular antechamber interposing between the closed hall and the open columnar rangamandapa hall. All these components are present here in Kumbhāriyā in the first four temples, the fifth one (originally dedicated to śāntinātha), which is now known as of Sambhavanātha, is without the trika/satcatuskya adjunct.
The rangamandapa, together with the mukhamandapa-antechamber, is surrounded by a pattaśālā-cloister having either two (sopāna-dvaya) or three continuous steps (sopāna-traya) all around; to this is organically articulated an entourage of the 24 (or more number of) devakulikā-subshrines meant to contain the corresponding number of Jina images. The pattaśālā coïncidentally thus becomes a circumambulatory path and hence also known as 'bhramantikā' (bhamatī' in Gujarātī as well as in Rājasthānī) in view of that particular functional feature of this adjunct. The three flanks of the ranga-mandapa are connected with the pattaśālā by carved ceilings. The temples dedicated to Jina Mahāvīra, Sāntinātha (originally Rşabhanātha), and Pārsvanātha, are of the 24-Jinālayas type. Neminātha temple, too, has a cloistered devakulikā-surround, but the Sambhavanātha is devoid of it.
(2) Jagati
The large rectangular, usually solid socle or platform-jagation which the temple complex stands may have projecting offsets punctuated with figure-bearing niches, and a moulded and at times also sparingly decorated elevation, or may be just without these features and, as a result, looking plain, monotonous, and bland. It is this second type, less expensive and facilely constructed, which is encountered in all of the Kumbhāriyā temples.