DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27192#0065
40
JAINA ARCHITECTURE.
Book V.
The woodcut (No. 284) will give some idea of the arrange-
ment of the porch, but it would require a far more extensive
and elaborate drawing to convey a correct impression of its
extreme beauty of detail and diversity of design. The great
pillars, as will be seen, are of the same height as those of
the smaller external porticos ; and like them they finish with
the usual bracket-capital of the East; upon this an upper
dwarf column or attic, if it may be so called, is placed to
give them additional height, and on these upper columns rest
the great beams or architraves which support the dome, the
springing of which is shown in woodcut No. 284 (ante, p. 39);
as, however, the bearing is long, the weight is relieved, at
least in appearance, by the curious angular strut or truss of
white marble, mentioned above (vol. i. p. 315), which, springing
from the lower capital, seems to support the middle of the beam.
That this last feature is derived from some wooden or
carpentry original, can scarcely be doubted ; but in what manner
it was first introduced into masonry construction is unknown :
probably it might be discovered by a careful examination of
the buildings in this neighbourhood.1 It continues as an
architectural feature down to the present day, but gradually
becoming more and more attenuated, till at last, except in one
example at Delhi, to be mentioned hereafter, it loses all its
constructive significance as a supporting member, and dwindles
into a mere ornament.
The marble dome in this temple is of great beauty from its
very rich carving, which may be judged of to some extent from
the photograph, Plate XX. It differs in minor details from
that in Tejahpala’s temple (Woodcut No. 286), though the
general design is the same, and the description of the latter,
given below, will apply to this. In the roofs of the corridors of
this temple also there is a series of carvings of most complicated
ornamental designs that are quite unrivalled anywhere else.
In Tejahpala’s temple, which stands to the north-east of
the preceding, the procession of the founder’s family occupies the
place of the cells in the east end of the enclosure behind the
shrine.2 This corridor is separated from the court by a pierced
screen of open tracery: a little rude and heavy, it must be
confessed, but still a fine work of its kind. Behind it, in
the centre, is an elaborately carved Chaumukh, with five
1 In the temple of Vadipura-Parjwa-
nlith, at Anahilawada, built in 1594,
we have an example of a temple of which
the whole interior (illustrated in ‘ Archaeo-
logical Survey of Western India,’ vol. ix.
p. 49 and plates 4, 20 and 21) is carved in
wood. Jaina temples with carved wood
facades and interiors are generally met
with in the larger cities.
2 ‘Architecture and Scenery in Gujarat
and Rajputana,’ p. 16.
JAINA ARCHITECTURE.
Book V.
The woodcut (No. 284) will give some idea of the arrange-
ment of the porch, but it would require a far more extensive
and elaborate drawing to convey a correct impression of its
extreme beauty of detail and diversity of design. The great
pillars, as will be seen, are of the same height as those of
the smaller external porticos ; and like them they finish with
the usual bracket-capital of the East; upon this an upper
dwarf column or attic, if it may be so called, is placed to
give them additional height, and on these upper columns rest
the great beams or architraves which support the dome, the
springing of which is shown in woodcut No. 284 (ante, p. 39);
as, however, the bearing is long, the weight is relieved, at
least in appearance, by the curious angular strut or truss of
white marble, mentioned above (vol. i. p. 315), which, springing
from the lower capital, seems to support the middle of the beam.
That this last feature is derived from some wooden or
carpentry original, can scarcely be doubted ; but in what manner
it was first introduced into masonry construction is unknown :
probably it might be discovered by a careful examination of
the buildings in this neighbourhood.1 It continues as an
architectural feature down to the present day, but gradually
becoming more and more attenuated, till at last, except in one
example at Delhi, to be mentioned hereafter, it loses all its
constructive significance as a supporting member, and dwindles
into a mere ornament.
The marble dome in this temple is of great beauty from its
very rich carving, which may be judged of to some extent from
the photograph, Plate XX. It differs in minor details from
that in Tejahpala’s temple (Woodcut No. 286), though the
general design is the same, and the description of the latter,
given below, will apply to this. In the roofs of the corridors of
this temple also there is a series of carvings of most complicated
ornamental designs that are quite unrivalled anywhere else.
In Tejahpala’s temple, which stands to the north-east of
the preceding, the procession of the founder’s family occupies the
place of the cells in the east end of the enclosure behind the
shrine.2 This corridor is separated from the court by a pierced
screen of open tracery: a little rude and heavy, it must be
confessed, but still a fine work of its kind. Behind it, in
the centre, is an elaborately carved Chaumukh, with five
1 In the temple of Vadipura-Parjwa-
nlith, at Anahilawada, built in 1594,
we have an example of a temple of which
the whole interior (illustrated in ‘ Archaeo-
logical Survey of Western India,’ vol. ix.
p. 49 and plates 4, 20 and 21) is carved in
wood. Jaina temples with carved wood
facades and interiors are generally met
with in the larger cities.
2 ‘Architecture and Scenery in Gujarat
and Rajputana,’ p. 16.