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Jain Temples
In the middle world of Jain cosmography is the continent of Nandisvaradvipa, the island of the heavenly beings. Here according to Jain tradition, are situated the fifty-two eternal temples, which figure frequently in Jain art as stylised buildings on a plaque or are conventionally represented by fifty-two jina images around a stone or metal pyramid. The temple is central to Jainism, and these representations indicate its importance as the building that houses the image of the Jina. Meditation on the jina and reverence for the jina image is fundamental to the religious life of the Jain: this may take place before a small domestic shrine, or it may be in a temple. The building of temples is a highly meritorious act, and past rulers, and more recently wealthy merchants and businessmen have sponsored the building of Jain temples, which are an important feature of Indian religious architecture. In this they follow the example of Bharat, son of the first tirthankara, Risabhdeva, who is traditionally said to have erected the first temple, dedicated to his father (Vaid P. 1980: p.2.428). Not only individuals but also whole communities may take the initiative in the construction of a temple, which becomes a socio-religious focal point, a necessity for Jains. The finest temples are found in those areas where the nagara or northern style of temple architecture was dominant.
The Jain temples in the Dravidian style of the south are generally simpler in concept than the most magnificent examples of the north. The focus of the temple is the shrine or garbha griha in which the jina image is placed. There will normally be a passageway around the garbha griha, where the devotees walk three times in circuit around the image as veneration of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. Above this a dome or spire (sikhara) will rise. Before the shrine, there may be a vestibule and then the main hall. The exact plan may vary but basically the temple needs a hall where the worshippers may assemble before the shrine. One variant found in some Jain temples is the caumukha or caturmukha layout: an especially splendid example is the temple at Ranakpur dating from the fifteenth century CE, where the shrine holds a grouping of four images (of Risabhdeva, the first tirthankara) facing in four directions. In the caumukha temple, the group of images will be centrally situated facing towards the four entrances to the temple and, as at Ranakpur, the images may be of the same tirthankara, or of four different ones, as at newly built temple at Vallabh Smarak, Delhi.
Figure 6.6 Side elevation of a typical Jain temple.
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