DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0253
230
JAINA ARCHITECTURE.
Rook II.
impression is that they may belong to the age of the Guptas, which
was a great age for excavating caves of this class in India, hut we
must await further information hefore deciding.
The principal group of temples at Girnar, some sixteen in number,
is situated on a ledge about GOO ft. below the summit, and still conse-
quently nearly 3000 ft. above the level of the sea. The largest, possibly
also the oldest of these, is that of Neminatha (Woodcut No. 120). An
120. Temple of tfaminatbo, Girnar. (From a l'lan by Mr. BulgetS.) Seule 50 ft. to 1 in.
inscription upon it records that it was repaired in \.i>. 1278, and
unfortunately a subsequent restorer has laid his heavy hand upon it,
so that it is difficult now to realise what its original appearance may
have been. This unfortunately is only too often the case with Jaina
temples. If a Hindu temple or Mahomedan mosque is once deserted
and goes to decay, no one ever after repairs it, but its materials are
ruthlessly employed to build a new temple or mosque according to the
newest fashion of the day. With the Jains it is otherwise. If a man
JAINA ARCHITECTURE.
Rook II.
impression is that they may belong to the age of the Guptas, which
was a great age for excavating caves of this class in India, hut we
must await further information hefore deciding.
The principal group of temples at Girnar, some sixteen in number,
is situated on a ledge about GOO ft. below the summit, and still conse-
quently nearly 3000 ft. above the level of the sea. The largest, possibly
also the oldest of these, is that of Neminatha (Woodcut No. 120). An
120. Temple of tfaminatbo, Girnar. (From a l'lan by Mr. BulgetS.) Seule 50 ft. to 1 in.
inscription upon it records that it was repaired in \.i>. 1278, and
unfortunately a subsequent restorer has laid his heavy hand upon it,
so that it is difficult now to realise what its original appearance may
have been. This unfortunately is only too often the case with Jaina
temples. If a Hindu temple or Mahomedan mosque is once deserted
and goes to decay, no one ever after repairs it, but its materials are
ruthlessly employed to build a new temple or mosque according to the
newest fashion of the day. With the Jains it is otherwise. If a man