jain architecture

Prof . Abhijeet B Shinde

Pravara Rural College of Architecture,

Loni

Jain Architecture

Prof. Abhijeet B. Shinde, PRCA, Loni 1

Introduction • The founder of Jainism is Vardamana

or Mahavira (Great Hero). But it is said that he is the last Tirthankara or Jina.(Victor) and the first one is Adinatha.

• All of Jain temples are dedicated to one of the 24 Tirthankaras.

• In Jain style of architecture, bricks were hardly used, and the system of carving out temples from rock faces was adopted.

• Jain architecture has influence of Hindu and Buddhist styles.

Jain Architecture


Introduction • In the initial years, many Jain temples were made adjoining the Buddhist

temples following the Buddhist rock-cut style.

• However, in later years Jains started building temple-cities on hills based on the concept of 'mountains of immortality.

Jain Architecture


Introduction • In later years when Jains discovered the concept of mountains of

immortality , they proceeded to deviate from Hindu and Buddhist sites and build on their own.

• An important aspect to be noted is that Hindus and Buddhists built temples, Jains built temple-cities on hills.

• to put it in their own words, they "ornamented these holy hills with a crown of eternal Arhat chaityas (tabernacles of saints) shining with the splendor of jewels.“

• The Adinatha Temple of Ranakpur is also named Dharma Vihara temple after its builder.

• The temple is very large. It stands on a basement of 60m x 62m which is like a stronghold.

• On the top of a flight of stairs at the central entrance, there is a three-storied "Balanaka" (entrance hall), which has a dome roof.

Adinatha Temple , Ranakpur

Jain Architecture


three storied Balanaka

(entrance hall) of the west facade

• A large number of columns are carved elaborately, and it is said that no two pillars are alike in design.

Jain Architecture



• At a space that penetrates through two to three stories, various heights of domes are placed, and their ceilings have sculptures that are unbelievably intricate.

• Light is abundantly coming inside through gaps between ceilings and from courtyards, highlighting the intertwined spaces and fine carvings all around.

• The splendor of the space is so pure as the entire temple from the floors to the ceilings is made of white marble. It also might be described as the realization of the Pure Land.

Jain Architecture



Jain Architecture

PLAN 1. ADINATHA TEMPLE, RANAKPUR, 15th century. from

"The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India" vol. 1, Buddhist,

Jain, Hindu, by George Michell, 1989.

Mula-prasada

Garbagriha

A. Rang Mandapa

B. Meghnad Mandapa

Mahadara-prasada

Bhadra prasada

Dev kulika

Bhamati (Cloister)



• 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 unlike the case of Mt. Abu,

there are not "Gudha-mandapa" (closed hall) and "Trikamandapa“ (vestibule),But 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).

• In addition to this, there are two "Bhadra-prasada" east and west sides, making the total composition much more intricate.

• A line of "Deva-kulika" (small shrine) along "Bhamati" (cloister) surround the whole complex. All these shrines hold a statue of Tirthankara or Jina (four in Chaturmukha, two in Mahadara-prasada), there are more than 100 statues in total.

Jain Architecture



Jain Architecture



four faced Shikhara beyond a courtyard

Samvarana Roof on the western mandapa

Jain Architecture



Pillars of western Meghanada-mandapa adinath temple

Jain Architecture



Meghanada-mandapa

Jain Architecture



Meghanada - mandapa

western Ranga-

mandapa adinath

Jain Architecture


Depaka, the architect of the

Adinatha Temple,

Tirthankara’s Facing four directions

pillar and a dome of a Meghanada-mandapa

Jain Architecture


Intricate carving at Dome Ceiling

• The Dilwara temples of India are located about 2½km from Mount Abu, Rajasthan's only hill station.

• These Jain temples were built by Vastupal Tejpal, a Jain laymen between the 11th and 13th centuries AD and are world famous for their stunning use of marble.

• The five legendary marble temples of Dilwara are a sacred pilgrimage place of the Jains.

• Although each temple has symmetrical plan, there is no axis that runs through this group of temples as a whole.

• The mandapas of the mini-shrines were joined to form a cloister. • Into the residual space between the quadrangle and the temple, the

architects inserted a pavilion held up by highly ornate columns of lavish sculptural detail.

• The temples, of local white arasa marble, are carved as if made of wood.

Jain Architecture


DILWARA TEMPLE COMPLEX

• Some consider them to be one of the most beautiful Jain pilgrimage sites in the world.

• The marble temples have an opulent entranceway, the simplicity in architecture reflecting Jain values like honesty and frugality.

• The temples are in the midst of a range of forested hills. A high wall shrouds the temple complex.

• Although the Jains built some beautiful temples at other places in Rajasthan, some believe that none come close to these in terms of architectural perfection.

• The ornamental detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars and panels is simply marvelous.

Jain Architecture


DILWARA TEMPLE COMPLEX

Jain Architecture


• There are five temples in all, each with its own unique identity. 1. Vimal Vasahi, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara, Rishabha. 2. Luna Vasahi, dedicated to the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, Neminatha. 3. Pithalhar, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar, Rishabha. 4. Parshvanath, dedicated to the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, Parshvanatha. 5. Mahavir Swami, dedicated to the last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira. • The most famous are the Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi temples. • Each is named after the small village in which it is located.

Five Unique Temples of Dilwara

Jain Architecture


• Each temple sits high off the ground on its own terrace and is accessed on its flank by steps spilling out from a multi tiered porch.

• The plans are modeled on Hindu precedents, with a main garbha-griha preceded by a mandapa.

• The central deity of the site is Adinath, one of the Tirthankars; shrines to all the Tirthankars were added to each temple later on.

• As a result, the individual temples came to be surrounded by a quadrangle composed of rows of mini-shrines.

• This temple carved entirely out of white marble was built in 1031 A.D. by Vimal Shah, a minister of Bhimdev I, the Chalukya King (Solanki Maharaja) of Gujarat.

Jain Architecture


The Exterior of the Vimala Vasahi Temple is not so attractive.

1. Vimal Vasahi Temple

Ceiling detail at one of the bhamati (Cloister)

Jain Architecture



• The temple stands in a open courtyard surrounded by a corridor, which has numerous cells containing smaller idols of the tirthankaras.

• The richly carved corridors, pillars, arches, and 'mandaps‘ or porticoes of the temple are simply amazing.


• The ceilings feature engraved designs of lotus buds, petals, flowers and scenes from Jain mythology.

Jain Architecture


• The Rang mandap is a grand hall supported by 12 decorated pillars and nicely carved out arches with a breathtaking central dome.

Jain Architecture



The Mandapa of the Vimala Vasahi (Adinatha Temple), since

1032, Mt. Abu.

• On the pillars are carved female figurines playing musical instruments and 16 Vidhyadevis, or the goddesses of knowledge, each one holding her own symbol.

• The Nav chowki is a collection of nine rectangular ceilings, each one containing beautiful carvings of different designs supported on ornate pillars.

• The Gudh mandap is a simple hall once you step inside its heavily decorated doorway.

Jain Architecture



• Installed here is the idol of Adi Nath or Lord Rishabdev, as he is also known. • The mandap is meant for Aarti to the deity. • The Hastishala (Elephant Cell) was constructed by Prithvipal, a descendant of

Vimal Shah in 1147-49 and features a row of elephants in sculpture.

2. Luna Vasahi Temple • The Luna Vasahi temple is dedicated to

Lord Neminath. • This magnificent temple was built in 1230

by two Porwad brothers - Vastupal and Tejpal both ministers of a Virdhaval, the Vaghela ruler of Gujarat.

Jain Architecture


• The temple built in memory of their late brother Luna was designed after the Vimal Vasahi temple.

2. Luna Vasahi

• The main hall or Rang mandap features a central dome from which hangs a big ornamental pendent featuring elaborate carving.

• Arranged in a circular band are 72 figures of Tirthankars in sitting posture and just below this band are 360 small figures of Jain monks in another circular band.

Jain Architecture


• The Hathishala or elephant cell features 10 beautiful marble elephants neatly polished and realistically modelled

• The Navchowki features some of the most magnificent and delicate marble stone cutting work of the temple.

• Each of the nine ceilings here seems to exceed the others in beauty and grace. The Gudh mandap features a black marble idol of the 22nd tirthankar Neminatha.

• The Kirthi Stambha is a big black stone pillar that stands on the left side of the temple.

• The pillar was constructed by Maharana Kumbha of Mewar.

• The remaining three temples of Dilwara are smaller but just as elegant as the other two.

Jain Architecture


2. Luna Vasahi

One of the corner sculptures of a block of

ceiling in the Luna Vasahi (Neminatha Temple).

• This temple was built by Bhamashah kavdia of Rajasthan. A massive metal statue of the first tirthankara, Rishabha Dev (Adinath), cast in five metals, is installed in the temple. The main metal used in this statue is 'Pital’ (brass), hence the name 'Pittalhar'.

• The Shrine consists of a main Garbhagriha, Gudh mandap and Navchowki. It seems that the construction of Rangmandap and the corridor was left unfinished as probably builder of the temple Bhamashah, who was minister of Maharana Pratap decided to aide Pratap in those difficult times.

• The old mutilated idol was replaced and installed in 1468-69 AD • weighing 108 maunds (about 40 quintals or four metric tons) according to th

e inscription on it. The image was cast by an artist 'Deta‘ which is 8 ft (2.4 m). high, 5.5 ft (1.7 m). Broad and the figure is 41 inches (1,000 mm) in height.

• In Gudh Mandap on one side, a big marble PanchTirthi sculpture of Adinath is installed.

Jain Architecture


3. Pittalhar Temple

• This temple, dedicated to Lord Parshvanath, was built by Mandlik and his family in 1458-59

• It consists of a three storied building, the tallest of all the shrines at Dilwara. On all the four faces of the sanctum on the ground floor are four big mandaps.

Jain Architecture


4. Parshvanatha Temple

• The outer walls of the sanctum comprise beautiful sculptures in gray sandstone, depicting Dikpals, Vidhyadevis, Yakshinis, Shalabhanjikas and other decorative sculptures comparable to the ones in Khajuraho and Konark.

• This is a small structure constructed in 1582 and dedicated to Lord Mahavira.

• being small it is a marvelous temple with carvings on its walls. • There are pictures on the upper wall of the porch painted in 1764

by the artists of sirohi

Jain Architecture


5. Mahaveer Swami Temple

• http://www.kamit.jp/03_jaina/1_abu/abu_eng.htm 2/ • http://www.kamit.jp/03_jaina/6_ranakpur/ran_eng.htm • http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/11168123.jpg • http://harryiyer001.blogspot.in/2007/12/mount-abu.html • http://www.wikipedia.com • http://images.google.com • http://www.flickr.com

Jain Architecture


References :

http://www.kamit.jp/03_jaina/1_abu/abu_eng.htm 2/



http://www.kamit.jp/03_jaina/6_ranakpur/ran_eng.htm

http://www.kamit.jp/03_jaina/6_ranakpur/ran_eng.htm

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/11168123.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/11168123.jpg

http://harryiyer001.blogspot.in/2007/12/mount-abu.html




http://www.wikipedia.com/

http://images.google.com/

http://www.flickr.com/

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