Jain temple architecture

( 3rd B.C to 17th A.D)

Characteristic Features…..

• Temples consists of entrance portico.

• They consist of colonnaded group of small
shrines round the four sides of the courtyard in
which the main temple stands.
• 8 to 11 columns arranged in the octagonal set
within a square.

bracket

• The dome is supported by these columns joined with

bracket type raking struts.
Characteristic Features…..
DIMINISHING SQUARE

• The dome is built on horizontal

courses with successively diminishing
square, laid diagonally to each other
with ‘Amalaka’ or ornamental ‘Kalasa’
at the top.

• They had beautifully carved & fretted marble ceiling with central pendant's
almost like chandeliers.
• Temples are built on the top of the hills
Typical Jain column or order:
• At the top is a capital usually a fluted vase-
motif, which supports wide square abacus.

• The shaft has great variety of design –

square at base but changes to circular
section with flutes crossed by lateral bands
of irregular intervals.

• The column has a wide spreading base.

• The corners of the

abacus are
supported by
figure or rampant
animals.
EARLY WORKS

EXAMPLES OF EARLY WORKS

• 3rd century
1. The rock cut caves in Barabara Hills at Gaya, Bihar Such as Lomas Rishi Cave, Rani
Gumpha cave.
2. Rock cut monasteries in Khandagiri & Udayagiri in Orissa.
3. These all were built to the orders of Emperor Ashoka for the use of Jainism

• 11 to 17th century
1. Other groups from 11 to 17th century are on Mount Abu( Rajasthan) (San- arbuda-
swelling tumor) near village Dilwara, Ranakpur & on the hills of Girnar.
EXAMPLES :

1. TEJPALA TEMPLE / LUN VASAHI (A.D 1232):

 It is temple at Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

 It is built with White marble brought from the quarries of Makarana situated about 40
to 45km away.
 But till today its a mystery that how the huge slabs were raised on the top of the hill
about 1200 m high.
 It was built by two brothers (Tejpala & Vastupala) of jaina repute.
 This temple is called Lun Vasahi temple named after the youngest brother Lun Vasahi.
 The façade of the temple is not attractive.
 The striking feature of the Tejapala temple is its dome which stands on 8 pillars.
 The pendant of the dome is a perfect gem; where it drops from the
ceiling it looks like a cluster of half open lotuses.
 It has large portico hall supported by
columns which are rightly & profusely
carved & joined by bracket type capital
which further carry the raking struts to
support the roof beams.

 Over them minutely carved dome is supported.

 The dome is made up of concentric rings to increase the number of pendants.
 In the end of the porch is a statue of the Jaina Tirthankara Neminath.
 The Lattice panels, arches, & gossamer texture.
• The Hathikhana or the elephant room next claims our attention.
• There are 10 elaborately carved elephants inside the cell.
• Formerly the elephants carried the idols representing the members of Vastupala's
family, but now they have disappeared.
• Behind the elephants there, is a male and female figures on it ( it is believed that these
figures represent the members of
Vastupala's family).
2. Vimala Vasahi TEMPLE on Mount Abu (11th century A.D):
• Built by Vimala Shah , the minister of first Solanki king of Gujarat, Bhimadeva-I.
• The Main temple stands in the centre of rectangular open court surrounded by 29
chapels.
• There are double columned halls having 232 columns every four form a portico to the
chapels within which a small image of Risabhanath is sitting.

Main temple

29 chapels
All around
the temple

rectangular open court

Vimala Vasahi TEMPLE on Mount Abu (11th century A.D):

• The ground plan a cruciform structure.

• Ala-ud-din Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, probably destroyed the temple.

Sanctum

gudha mandapa
a portico, called the navchoki
(hall with nine columns and
ceilings)
The grand dance hall, the ranga
mandapa or sabha mandapa
Vimala Vasahi TEMPLE on Mount Abu (11th century A.D):

•In the main temple a bronze image of the First Tirthankara.

•Its eyes are made up of precious stones.
•Now the statues with plaster of Paris statue are seen.
•The temple roof is carved dome supported on arcade of 24 columns,
over which are continuous architraves & arches like garland.
•The interior of the dome is fully sculptures work in concentric ring with
central pendant like chandeliers.
•Built with marble.
3. ADINATH TEMPLE AT RANAKPUR( Rajasthan): 15th century A.D

• Temple is at Ranankpur on western Marwar .

• It belongs to the Jaina Shrine.
• The temple is a ‘Chau-mukh’ temple of Adinath.
• The main image is set back to back to face the
four cardinal points.
 Entrance
( A, assembly hall)
( B, high hall) Central Main
Shrine is called
"Mula-prasada”

interior is
"Garbhagriha"
(sanctum)

Entrance Entrance

main statue is
"Mulanayaka”

Mula-prasada Garbagriha

Mulanayaka
Entrance
• The main chamber is 7m square with four entrances.
• There are 29 halls set in the rectangular courtyard.
• The main temple is surrounded by 4 subsidiary shrines.
• The temple had 80 domes supported on 426 columns with different patterns.

Temple Interior

•A forest of columns marks out the varied interior spaces of the temple.
Chaumukh temple of Adinath
Central Main Shrine is called
"Mula-prasada," its interior is
"Garbagriha" (sanctum), its
main statue is "Mulanayaka."
In the type of Chaturumukha
(four-faced) shrine
There are four "Ranga-
mandapas" ( A, assembly hall)
in front of four portals of the
main shrine
Each Ranga-mandapa connects
with three storyed "Meghanada-
mandapa" ( B, high hall) in front

Having four "Mahadara-

prasada" (two-faced-shrine)
diagonally in four directions of
the main shrine, the temple type
is "Panchayatana" (five-
shrined-type)
Plan Of Chaumukh temple of Adinath
 Meghanada – mandapa Dome
Front view Of Chaumukh Temple

3 storied Meghanada - mandapa Pillars of western Meghanada-mandapa

Stonework

•The beautiful diagonal arch (in

the shape of an upside-down "V").

Dome Interior

• A modern glass chandelier depends from the top of the corbelled dome, surrounded by
carvings of celestial dancers and musicians.
Drums

•These large ceremonial drums

The Five Elements

•This odd figure, which combines
four animal bodies and one human
body, represents the "five
elements" (earth, water, air, fire,
and soul).
Temple main Shrine

Temple
4. Neminath Temple ( Gujarat) : 13th century A.D
• It is built on the hills of Girnar, nearly 915m above sea level.
• The temple consists of courtyard 59mx 40m.
• It is surrounded by pillared cloisters containing over seventy cells.
• The viman is composed of a grouping of turrets around the central hall.

viman

pillared
cloisters
5. Statue of Gomateshwara at Shravan Belgola :
• About 64km from Mysore in Karnataka.
• The statue of Gomateshwar Bahubali is one of the most important pilgrimage
destinations in Jainism.
• The sanctuary Indra beta is situated in between two hills Chandragiri & Indragiri.
• It is at a height of 122m.

Indra beta

Steps leading
• A number of steps are cut in granite from
the foot till the top.
• The both hills are connected with a way
near the holy tank called Belgola.
• On the top stands the statue of
Gomateshwar known as Bahubali, the son
of the First 24 Tirthankaras.
• It is called ad the colossal of Mysore.
• It is carved with single granite stone in
grey color. STEPS

The pond in the middle of

city, after which it is
named, Beḷgoḷa “White
Pond”
 madhavi creepers

statue of Gomateshwar known as Bahubali

ant hill

• The statue is 17.4m high with mattered hair on the head, elongated ears , nose , large
eyes, thin belly, broad chest etc.
• He stand in the meditation abstract.
• A huge rock called the ant hill rose above his feet & madhavi creepers entwined his
limbs.
•Once in every 12 to 14 yrs, the ‘Maha Mastak- abhiseka’ ceremony of the statue of lord
Bahubali is performed.
• The priest climb up to the top and performs the puja.
•First 1008 pots containing the holy water of various rivers are poured on the head of
statue.
• Next follows the ritual bathing with milk, ghee, curds, coins, flowers, saffron, Vermillon(
red color), sandal wood etc.
• In 1981 February it took place and coincided with 1000th anniversary of installation of
statue.
• The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in 2018.
THE END