The Structural Temples of Gujarat
by Kantilal F. Sompura | 1968 | 163,360 words
This essay studies the Structural Temples of Gujarat (Up to 1600 A.D.)....
3.6. Temples ascribed to Jayasinha Siddharaja (A.D. 1094-1144)
Structural Temples of the Caulukyan Period 135 Almost every old work of architectural or antiquarian interest in Gujarat is ascribed to Jayasinha Siddharaja (A. D. 1094-1144) by the chronicles and legends of Gujarat. His two greatest works, fragments of which are still surviving, are the Rudramahalaya at Siddhapur and the Sahasralinga lake at Patan (both in Dist. Mehsana). The Rudramahalaya, though very little is left from its size and the beauty of its carving must have been a magnificent work-the grandest specimen of architecture of the Solanki period. 94 The remains of the Sahasralinga excavation show that it must have been a work of surprising size and richness, well deserving the title 'Mahasara' or great lake.95 Siddharaja built the temple of Rudramahalaya, which is said to have been one of the largest temples ever built in India. 95/1 Muslim invaders demolished this temple and a part of the magnificent temple still survives; some of the portion including the great hall and the sanctum sanctorum is being used as a mosque.96 Tod, found therein two inscriptions, 97 one mentioning the foundation of the temple in V. S. 998 and the other its completion by Siddharaja in V. S. 1202. Burgess remarks that these inscriptions are no longer found there, 98 In his notes on a visit to Gujarat he however, notes to have seen three inscriptions there but found them undicipherable.99 The report of the Archaeological Department of Baroda State make no mention of these inscriptions. From this Shri A. K. Majumdar presums that they are lost. 100 But the presumption cannot hold good 94. Chaulukyas of Gujarat p. 179, 95. Chaulukyas of Gujarat p. 180. 95/1. PRAS, Wc. 1912, p. 16. 96. Baroda Archaeological Department, 1934-35. p. 8. 97. Tod. Travells in Western India. p. 142. 98. Architectural Antiquities of Northern Gujarat p. 60. 99. Burgess; Notes of a visit to Gujarat (1869) pp. 66-67. 100. Chaulukyas of Gujarat D. 28. note 28.
136 The Structural Temples of Gujarat as the inscription dated V. S. 1202 was personally seen by the writer in March 1958 A. D. on a pillar of the porch. The site of temple of Rudramahalaya covered an oblong of about 70.1 by 91.5 ms., in the centre of which stood the temple-two or three storeys in height, with a mandapa 15.2 ms. square inside, having porches on the east, north and south sides and the shrine on the west. In or round the court were eleven other shrines dedicated to the Rudras. The court was perhaps surrounded by small cells with principle entrance on the east and a ghata or flight or steps down to the Sarswati river on that side. 101 Only a few magnificent fragments of Rudramahalaya are left surviving. 101/1 The restoration plan 102 of the site has been published by Burgess and Cousens. The remained fragments are four pillars of North porch to the mandapa and five pillars of east porch; four pillars at the back of the mandapa, one beautiful Torana and a number of pillars and the doors and 101. Architectural Antiquities of Northern Gujarat p. 59-60. 101/1. Here Figs. 93-100. 102. Architectural Antiquities of Northern Gujarat plt. XXXVIII, Fig. 227. In respect to the arrangement of pillars in the Gudhamandapa of the main shrine Shri Meter A. Dhaky does not accept the ground plan proposed by Burgess and Cousens and he remarks that it needs some investigations. He says, "There are clear evidences that the temple was a storied building, since then the arrangement of pillars of the gudhamandapa is not admissible as far they do not allow room for walking on the floor of the upper storey. In fact they are not in conformity with the practice observed." (The Chronology of Solanki Temples of Gujarat p. 45). And by comparing the ground plan of this temple with that of Ajitana ha temple at Taranga he gives possible clues for the arrangement of pillars, but the clues are hardly acceptable as they are far fetched and vague. The pillared antarala, in fact, would leave ample room for moving on the upper floor.
Structural Temples of the Caulukyan Period 137 cells possibly in situ have been turned into a mosque about 5.3 ms. in length. At the back of the court there is also one cella with a spire over it.103 The work known as Upadesatarangini of Ratnamandira, 15 th Cent. A. D and a Kavita by Lalla Bhatta, though in an exaggarative tone, describe the temple of Rudramahalaya having 1700 pillars, 1800 female sculptures and nearly 17000 figures of elephants and horses in different poses carved in Narathara an Gajathara bands around the Pitha i. e. basement of the temple. It also narrates that Siddharaja placed the life-size sculptures of Asvapati, Gajapati and Narapati praying to the God in the temple. 104 While narrating the completion of Rudramahalaya Merutunga states that the height of the temple was twenty three cubits. 105 The next great achievement of Siddharaja was the excavation of the Sahasralinga lake which was so named because it contained a thousand Siva linga shrines around it. Some of them were, however, dedicated to other deities also. The Dvasraya refers to the shrine of Dasavatara (ten incarnation of Visnu) as built by Siddharaja.106 The Sarasvati Purana locates it on the South-west of the Sahasralinga lake.107 The Dvasraya records that lake contained 108 shrines of goddesses and a tample of Dasavatara in addition to 1008 shrines of Siva. 108 The Purana refers to some other shrines as well. In the centre of the lake was an inlet, upon which was erected a temple of Rudresvara. 103. Ibid. pp. 50-60; also plts. XXXVIII, Vedic Index, XXIX. 104. K. B. Dave. Kumar No. 400. pp. 213-214. 105. P. C (Guj. Translation). p. 90. 106. Dvyashraya XV, V. 119. 107. Sarasvati Purana, XVI, V. 162. 108. Dvyashraya XV, VV, 114, 117-119.
138 The Structural Temples of Gujarat Sarasvati Purana is almost contemporary with the lake. Its author graphically describes the many tirthas on its bank and the beautiful important shrines that graced its embankments. A thousand or a thousand and eight Siva shrines (with lingas in them) were built along the embankment. According to Purana the temples on its embankment included shrines of the 10 incarnations of Visnu on its northern embankment. On its westrn bank were 108 shrines of devis or Goddesses. Besides these there were shrines dedicated to the Sun, Nakulisa, Vinayaka, Kartika, Kapalesvara, Kolladevi, Somanatha and Bhairava, In the centre of the lake is a small hillock on the top of which is a Muslim structure or roza. According to the Purana the shrine dedicated to Vindyavasini was located here. Above the triple inlent sluices ( or Triveni) was the shrine of Jalasayi -Visnu. The tank was in good condition till the 16 th cent. A. D. when Akbar's tutor was murdered while boating in the lake. The structures on the bank were pulled down by Muslims and the stones of temples and embankment were carried away for constructing the tank known as the Khan Sarovar. ( 16 th cent. A. D. ). During the excavation, on the Southern side of the tank near Rly. line, remains of a Siva temple, consisting of carved and plain marble pieces, and two profusely carved pillars were exposed.109 The lake Munsar at Viramgam is said to have been built by Siddharaja in the name of his mother Minaladevi. On the bank of it neary 500 small Siva shrines have been erected of which 300 are still surviving. The extant structures give an idea of the construction and appearance of the Sahsralinga lake at Patan. 109. Archg. in Baroda. pp. 7-8.
Structural Temples of the Caulukyan Period 139 There exists a double shrine on the bank of the Munsar lake. In the middle is a square mandapa; on its east is a shrine (now) dedicated to Siva, while on the west it was Vaisnava. 110 The Shrines, externally, have recessed niches, 111 and in decoration of mouldings, are identifical with those at Sunak. So also the Sikhara is. The mandapa, which is common to both, has twelve pillars and seems to be open. It has a stepped roof, 112 A minister of Jayasinha Siddharaja built a temple of Goganarayana at Dadhi-padra 113 But it cannot be traced now. The earliest inscription on the pedestal of one of the images in the Parsvanath temple at Kumbharia is dated in the year V. S. 1161 (A. D. 1105 ). 113/1 This may place the temple a few years anterior to this date. The temple faces north. It consists of a sanctum, an antarala, a Gudhamandapa, a trikamandapa (having trikamandapa (having three Cokis), a Sabhamandapa (Rangamandapa) and a porch. It has nine devakulikas each on eastern and western side of the temple and three on either side of the entrance to the temple, thus constituting in all 24 devakulikas. 113/2 Two floral pillars of the rangamandapa 113/3 and the trikamandapa, along with arches 113/4 are highly ornate. The ceilings of the bays of the 110. Burgess, ASWI, VIII, p. 91, plt. LXXIII, fig. 1. Here Fig. 101. 111. lbid plt. LXXIV. 112. Archaeology of Gujarat pp. 80-81. 113. The Dahod Inscription, Indian Antiquary X. 158. 113/1. Vishalvijayaji, Kumbharia' p. 47; Inscription No. 1 113/2. Ibid. p. 44; For the ground plan of this temple vide Brhad Shilpa Shastra p. 11 f. 113/3. Stella Kramrisch. 'Art & Architecture of India'. p. 133. 113/4. N. Meter Sompura. 'Silparatnakara' plt. facing p. 121.
140 The Structural Temples of Gujarat trika and those of central devakulikas are notworthy for their exquisite workmanship. 113/5 The Siddhesvara temple at Wadhwan (Dist. Surendranagar), repaired in V. S. 1301 (1244 A. D.), is said to have been built originally by or in honour of great Siddharaja Jayasinha, who conquered Saurastra in or about V. S. 1171 (1115 A. D)114 Anandapura* ( Dist. Surendranagar) There is here the old temple of Anantesvara Mahadeva an old ruined building which has been rebuilt and added to in subsequent times, and supposed to have been originally erected by Siddharaja Jayasinha. It faces the east. The lofty hall, before the shrine is modern; but the shrine with its outer wall, upto the roof, is old, except that the old door-frame has been rebuilt. Judging by the sculptured walls of the shrine, the original temple must have been a very elaborate one completely decorated in all its parts. Being dedicated to Siva the principal images on its walls are Saivite-the nude Kalabhairva, Camunda, Siva in Tandava pose etc. 115 The Gajathara, or elephant course, in the basement is not so monotonous as on some temples where they are repeated in precisely the same stiff form all round; here, they are in all sorts of attitudes, some of them quarrelling and fighting with one another, more after the style of the great basement round 113/5. Dave K. B. 'Ambika Kotesvara ane Kumbharia'. p. 55. Here Fig. 102, 114. I. K. Inscrip. No. 8; New Indian Antiquary, Feb. '39. pp. 689-690. * 38.4 Km. due south of Than. The city was founded in Sam. 1124 by Cudasama Anand, after whom it was named. The temple of Anantesvers is also recognised as temple (The Chronology of Solanki Temples of Gujarat p. 54) 115 Somanatha and other Medieval Temples of Kathiawad p. 60. Plts. LXIX & LXX. ' Navalakha'
Structural Temples of the Caulukyan Period 141 the Kailasa at Elora caves, where, they are almost life-size. The bands of human beings, above, are also full of life. 116 The Gala inscription 117 of Jayasinha Siddharaja records the erection of a temple of Bhattarikadevi ( family deity) along with a small shrine of Vinayaka in V. S. 1193 ( 1137 A. D. ). The ruined structure stands on the Western bank of Chandrabhaga river at the distance of about 12.8 Kms. from Dhrangadhra (Dist. Surendranagar). A larger part of the temple which faces east is in ruins, while the shrine. on the south contains a fragmentary image of Vinayaka. According to Jain tradition during the reign of Siddharaja, when Rudramahalaya was under construction on an extensive base several jain temples had been built at Siddhpur either by the King himself or by his ministers. It is narrated that Siddhraja built a 'Caumukha' type of temple known as Siddhpura Vihara, 118 or Siddhavihara at Siddhpur and a temple known as Rajavihara at Patana.119 The said Rajavihara according to another version was built by Siddhraja's minister Aliga.120 Minister Santu also said to have built a Jain temple known as Maharaj-bhuvan at Siddhpur. 121 None of the temples exists to-day. In Canto IX of the Somasaubhagya Kavya 122 (1468 A. D.) Somapratistha Suri, the deciple of Somasundara Suri, records 116. Somanatha and other Medieval Temples of Kathiawad pp. 60-61. 117. Gala Stone Inscription-Journal of the Bombay Branch, XXV, 322; Historical Inscriptions of Gujarat Vol. II No. 114. 118. Somapratibhacarya: 'Kumarpalpratibodha' p. 22. also 'Puratan Prabandha Samgraha' p. 30. 119. Jain Sahitya no Samkshipta Itihasa p. 290. 120. R. C. Parikha, 'Kavyanusasana,' Intro. p. 188. 121. Bombay Gazetter, Vol. I, p. 173. 122. satadeva siddhapura puraraja viharakhyavara viharasya | sadrsam sadrsam cadrsam sudhamjanam sainyakrccaityam || || Somasaubhagya Kavya. IX. 47.
142 The Structural Temples of Gujarat the existence of Caturmukha prasada known as Rajavihara at Siddhpur and states that the plan and design of the Caturmukha prasada at Ranapura (Ranakpur) closely resembled to that of Rajavihara at Siddhpur. The Rajavihara temple does not exist to-day but the present temple of Ranakpur, a prototype to that of Rajavihara at Siddhpur, except the religious alteration in plan and design, supplies the clue for the original plan and design of Rajavihara temple at Siddhpur. Sajjana was Siddhaja's first viceroy in Saurastra. He spent three years revenue in building a stone temple of Neminatha on Girnar in place of the wooden temple. The stone temple of Sajjan would seem to be the present temple of Neminath. Many alterations have been made in consequence of Mohammadan sacrilege and modern enclosure is added. The inscription of Sajjan dating A. D. 1220 (V. S. 1176) is on the inside wall to the right in passing to the small South gate. 123 This temple of Neminatha is the largest of the Girnar group. There is an inscription which indicates that it was restored in the 13 th century. The temple is probably not very different in its general appearance from what it was built about a century before by Sajjan. More recent renovations may perhaps have robbed it from some of its original character, but it is still a building of marked size and distinction. The entire scheme of the temple depicts a very carefully designed plan. Standing within a quadrangular courtyard measuring 58*39-6 ms. it is surrounded by a range of pillared cloisters containing over seventy cells. The temple building is placed towards the WesThis statement is corrobarated by Ranigapura Caturmukha Prasada Stavana (A. D. 1443) of Pandit Meha composed on the occassion of the consecration ceremony of Ranakpur temple by Soma Sundarasuri in V. S. 1496 (A. D. 1440). Jain Tirtha Sarva Sangraha Vol. 1. Pt. II. p. 214. 123. Antiquities of Kaccha and Kathiawada p. 159; Raivatgiri kalpa (in Vividha Tirtha Kalpa) p. 9: Prabhavaka carita p. 194. Antiquities of Kaccha and Kathiawada Plt. XXXII, here Fig. 239.
Structural Temples of the Caulukyan Period 143 tern end of this enclosure leaving a wide sweep of pavement in front to add dignity to its proportions, the structure itself having a plan of 36-6 ms. long and 18.3 ms. wide. The mandapa is a handsome hall 13.2 ms. square with an open space in the centre constituting the nave, around which is a colonnade of twenty-two pillars forming the aisles. It is however in the exterior elevation of the Vimana that the early character of the temple may be detected, as this is composed of a grouping of turrets around the central tower (sikhara) on a system common in the temple architecture of western India of about the twelth century. 124 The said Sajjana built a temple dedicated to Parsvanath at Sankhesvar (Dist, Radhanpura) in V.S. 1155. The temple, though restored more than once is now in ruins and stands on the west of the new Parsvanath temple built there recently.125 The other minister, Udayana built the Udayanavihara dedicated to Srisimandhara swami at Dhavalaka (Dholka ). The said temple designated as Udavasti, was in existence till the time of the composition of Prabhavaka Carita of Prabhacandracarya (V. S. 1334 ). 126 A fragment of the Prasati of the said temple is found engraved on the back of the image of Ranchhodji 124. IABH. p. 163. 125 The Sankhesvara temple was restored and enlarged several times. Vastupala Tejapala restored it in V. S. 1286. Rana Durjansalya of Zinzuwada repaired the temple in V. S. 1302 ( Jugadu Carita Vedic Index); it was again restored by one Manaji of Gandhara during the years V. S. 1628-1672. The temple consisted of three garbhagrihas with Sikharas, a Gudhamandapa, a Sabhamandapa and enclosed by 52 cells of Tirthankars (Gujaratana Aitihasika Sadhano pt. II. p. 220). It too fell in ruins and a new temple on the east of the old one, was built in V. S. 1891. 126. Prabhavaka carita p. 172. vv 48-52; Puratana 172. vv 48-52; Puratana Prabandha Samgraha pp. 26-27, Jain Satyaprakash Vol. 19 No. 6.
144 The Structural Temples of Gujarat consecrated in the Ranchhodji temple at Dholka.137 Udayana is known to have also built another Vihara at Karnavati (Ahmedabad). This vihara also was known as Udayanavihara. 128 The Viharas exist no more. During the reign of Siddharaja there also existed Aristanemiprasada 129 and Vasupujya Caitya 130 at Karnavati. There also existed a temple of Bhabha Parsvanatha 131 at Asaula (Asapalli). None of these temples traced out so far. The Cambay inscription dated V. S. 1165 (A. D. 1109) records the erection of Jain temple known as Stambhana Parsvanatha temple at Stambhatirtha.132 The present temple hardly yields traces of the old structure. Bahada built a Jain temple of Vardhamana Swami (Mahavira) in Anahilapur, the pratistha being dated V. S. 1179 (A. D. 1123). 188 Similarly a temple of Adinatha 134 was built (in Patan) at the suggestion of Asuka, a Jain minister in V. S. 1183 (A. D. 1126-27). Both these temples do not exist. There was a temple dedicated to Vasupujya at Broach. 185 127. Meter R. Majmudar. El. XXXV, No. 11. 128. Jain Sahitya no Samkshipta Itihasa p. 335 para 482; Prabandha Cintamani (D. K. Shastri ) p. 91. 129. Prabhavaka carita p. 174 VV. 81-83; Puratana Prabandha Samgrah p. 27. 130. Puratana Prabandha Samgrah p. 27. 131. Samaya Sundara Upadhyaya Bhabhabu Parsanatha Mai bhetyo, Asauli manhe Aja re; Tirthabhasa Cattisi : (Jain Gurjara Kavio) Pt. 3. p. 874 132. Pracina Jain Lekha Samgraha Pt. II. pp. 316 ff. 133. Prabhavaka carita p. 173. 134. R. C. Parikha, 'Kavyanusasana' II. p CCLV. 135. Vide Introduction, 'Sirapasanaha Cariya' (V S. 1165) by Devabhadrasuri (Jain Tirtha Sarva Sangraha Vol. I. pt. 1, p. 28)