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.)....
1.1. Temples of 14th century A.D. (Introduction)
CHAPTER V STRUCTURAL TEMPLES AFTER THE END OF THE CAULUKYAN PERIOD (upto 1600 A.D.) Temples of 14 th Cent A. D. The temples at Prabhaspatan, one dedicated to Candraprabha and the other known as Astapadaji, 1 were in existence in V. S. 1361 (A. D. 1305). 2 None of these temples survives in its original form at present. The fragmentary inscription (date lost) is built up in a wall outside the southern door of the Neminatha temple on Girnar. It refers itself to the reign of King Mahipala (probably Mahipala who ruled in V. S. 1364-1387) and records the building of temple of Neminatha by Vayarnsinha.3 The temple cannot be traced so far. The inscription dated V. S. 1367 (A. D. 1312) on a pedestal of a stone image in the compound of Rupesvara Mahadeva temple at Boru (Vijapura Taluka, Dist. Mehsana) records the restoration of the, probably, said temple.+ 1. P. C. ascribes this temple to Kumarpala (Prabandha Cintamani Singh Jain granthamala. p. 101 ). 2. Jain Tirtha Sarva Sangraha Vol. 1. pt. 1, p. 134. From the style of the carvings of the pillars of the present Candraprabha temple at Prabhas Shri S. Meter Nawab is of the opinion that originally they belonged to 12 th cent. A. D. ('Bharatana Jain Tirtho' Plt. 97. Figs. 184 & 185. also description of the plates p. 23). Some of the early images of Jain Tirthankaras lying in the ruined temples of Valabhi had been shifted to Prabhas Patan and were concecrated in these temples. The said images now are seen in some of the modern temples at Prabhas. 3. Inscriptions in Kathiawad Inscr. No. 30 p. 736. 4. Baroda Archaeological Department '39 list of Inscriptions. Appendix B. No. 19 p. 36.
200 The Structural Temples of Gujarat Jesala Shah erected a Jain temple dedicated to Ajitanatha at Cambay in V. S. 1365 (A. D. 1309)" Samarashah or Samarasinha of Anahilavada repaired the temple of Adinatha in V. S. 1369 (A. D. 1313) on the Satrunjaya hill. The new image of Adinatha was consecrated in V. S. 1371 (A. D. 1315).6 At Serisa (near Kalol, District Mehsana) there was a temple of Parsvanatha, as it is stated that while in the way to Satrunjaya, Samarashah worshipped the said temple." The temple is extinct. About V. S. 1369 (A. D. 1312-13), the temples of Vimala Shah & Tejapala on Mt. Abu were destroyed by the Muslims. The Vimalavasahi was repaired by Vijada, and sons of Dhanasimha and Laligasimha. The inscriptions at the foot of many images in the cells near the principal temples show that many of them were set up about this time. In the Gudhamandapa even to-day there are statutes of the parents, of both the persons, which were set up in the V. S. 1378 (A. D. 1322 ) when the pratistha of the temple was performed. 8 Abu is famous for its Jain temples, but there are certain old Brahmanical sites, which are of utmost architectural interest. The temple of Achalesvara Mahadeva has no linga or idol of Siva but it has an unique sculpture which is called the 5. Pracina Jain Lekha Samgraha Pt. II. pp. 315. ff. 6. Jinavijaya 'Jain Aitihasika Gurjra Kavya Samuccya' pp. 238-42; also vide 'Samararasu. Marble was taken in carts to Palitana. Sixteen clever sculptors were sent from Anahilawada to Palitana to prepare the image of Adinatha. Balacandra Muni was to supervise the preparation of image. (Jinvijaya Ibid. pp. 542-43 ). 7. Ibid. Appendix pp. 136-37 also Jinasuri, 'Tirchamala' and Jinaprabhasuri, ' Vividhatirthkalpa ' 8. Pracina Jain Lekha Samgraha II. no. 132.
Structural Temples after the end of the Caulukyan Period 201 forefinger of Siva's foot, and is worshipped as an emblem of Siva. There is a slab (Patta) of 108 lingas placed on a chotara near the temple and the wall of chotara contains an inscription9 dating V. S. 1342. The shrine of Achalesvara Mahadeva is a plain structure and is enclosed in a very wide compound. There are other small shrines. The main shrine of Achalesvara Mahadeva is composed of Mulagarbhagriha and a Sabhamandapa. In front of it is a chowki with a small dome. The temple faces west. The temple is ancient but underwent numerous repairs. 9/1 In c. 1377 V. S. (A. D. 1321) Maharava Lumbha the Chauhana ruler of Chandravati repaired the Sabhamandapa and placed in it portrait sculptures of his own self and the queen. A beautiful stone sculpture of Kanhadadeva, the son of Maharava Tejasinha and grand son of Lumbha, is also preserved in Sabhamandapa. It has an inscription dated in 1400 V. S. (1343 A. D. ).10 The Sun Temple on the Hiranya River at Prabhas Patan resembles in plan the Modhera temple consisting of the Garbhagriha and the Gudhmandapa as the principal structure. It has no Sabhamandapa. However, according to Cousens it may be placed in the 14 th Cent. A. D., for, amongst its basement mouldings, there is an asvathara, a course of horse-moulding, which is never found either by itself or along with others in a small temple of the the Caulukyan period, and thus Cousens rightly points out that this incorrect use of it denotes a much later date when 9. Historical Inscriptions of Gujarat Vol. III, No. 252. 9/1. Shri Meter A. Dhaky is of the opinion that the main fabric of the temple belongs to about the middle of the 11 th cent. or slightly later (The Chronology of Solanki Temples of Gujarat p. 76). 10. In the compound of this shrine, is a temple dedicated to Laksminarayana, where there are images of 10 incarnations of Visnu, and a sculpture of Visnu reclining on serpent sesa (Sesa-Sayi Visnu.)
202 The Structural Temples of Gujarat the canons and use of architecture were in decadence. This is also shown by the ill-proportioned size of the front porch. To this may be added the fact that it is not a typical sun-temple. because it has Ganesa on the lintel of the shrine door-way, and the niches round the shrine have figures of Laxami-Narayana, Siva-Parvati and Brhama-Sarsvati. As shown by the plan, it consists of a shrine with a Pradaksinamarga and Gudhamandapa, and has a small porch in front. Inside, the shrine is very simple and has a small image of surya. Its door-frame has on one side a panel of gods; the shaft is otherwise bare; above the lintel there is a panel of Navagrahas, and on the lintel itself there is an image of Ganapati, 6 compared with those asvathara on the pitha Outside, the shrine walls are simple, at Modhera. The only ornament is the (base); the kumbhi has niched-gods and goddesses, separated by intervals. So also the jangha of the wall has fewer figures. Above this there is a band of kirtimukhas, and the cornice. Like the Modhera temple the pradaksinamarga has no windows, but niches which contain figures of gods and goddesses. The mandapa has a row of six pillars in the centre, and four pilasters on each side which once supported the roof which above. The central ceiling of this roof has lost its middle portion, but the remainder is decorated with kirtimukhas which is totaly dissimilar from the earlier decoration 10/a The Sikhara is interesting too. Not only the shrine but also the porch-Sikhara is surrounded by a group of smaller Sikharas up to some height; while on the main Sikhara figures of Surya and others are found up to a height never noticed in other temples except those which are known to be late 11 10/a. Here figs. 135, 136 11. Archaeology of Gujarat pp. 91-92.
Structural Temples after the end of the Caulukyan Period 203 The Sun Temple on the bank of Triveni river at Prabhas. On the bank of Triveni river, facing the rising sun, the old temple of Surya stands. It is a later building than Kumarpalas temple of Somnatha.12 Its general style follows that of Surya temple at Than but its worksmanship is better and earlier by a few years, dating perhaps about 1350 A. D. From its plan 13, it appears to be identical with that of the Surya temple discussed above, it has a shrine surmounted by a Sikhara, a pradaksina-marga, with three niches and gudhamandapa, with two windows, one on either side. Within there are six pillars. In front there is a porch. 14 The upper portion of its Sikhara, together with the roof of the hall, and the whole of the porch have been thrown down. The forward part of the mandapa including the roof and front doorway, has been rebuilt in a clumsy fashion. The roof of the mandapa has been rebuilt with arching thrown in above the central ceiling to support the outer structure. In this arching have been used old carved corner stones of a former ceiling.15