JAIN

ARCHITECTURE

Module – 1, Lecture - 4

By: Ar. Surabhi Moharir

DSCA, Bangalore
Syllabus
MODULE 1
Introduction to Jain Architecture: Study of principles of design of
buildings through study of three kinds of Architecture:

a) Monumental
b) Domestic (Built to inhabit) and
c) Civic space.
Contents
• Introduction to Jainism

• Jain architecture

• Initial rock cut structures at Badami

• Dilwara temples, Mount Abu

Jainism
Lord Mahavir
• Mahavir was born in 599 B.C. as a prince in Bihar, India. At the age of 30, he left his
family and royal household, gave up his worldly possessions, including clothing and became
a monk.

• He spent the next twelve years in deep silence and meditation to conquer his desires and
feelings.

• After which, he spent the next thirty years travelling on bare feet around India preaching
to the people the eternal truth he realized.

• 'Mahaveer', who was generally considered as the founder of Jain religion is the last tirthankar
of 24 Jinas or saints.

• 'Jina' means conqueror or leader from which Jaina is derived.

• Thirthankar means those who help in crossing river of torrents of endless cycle of rebirth by
leading the way across.
Jainism
• Jainism originates in the teaching of Mahavira, a contemporary of the Buddha from the 6th century bce.

• Like the Buddha, Mahavira preached a doctrine of asceticism and meditation, but Mahavira insisted that all forms of life
were equivalent and that respect for life was essential for the purification of the human soul.

• Strictly ascetic Jains, known as Digambaras (“sky-clad,” or naked), were thus expected not only to be vegetarians but
also to eat only a fruit or vegetable that had broken off its plant of its own accord.

• Like the Mahayana Buddhists of Central and East Asia, the Jains built colossal monolithic statues of their Tirthankars

• Like the Buddhists, the Jains challenged Hindu caste hierarchy and refuted Vedic orthodoxy, particularly the Brahmin’s
claim to privileged access to higher knowledge.

• So Jain ideas and institutions, like those of the Buddhists, were severely attacked by the Hindus in the 9th and 10th
centuries.
Jain Architecture
Jain Architecture
• The Jain architecture can be considered as separate within India.

• It is almost parallel to Buddhist architecture and almost merged with Hindu architecture, with very few exceptions.

• Still for architectural study we can group all Jain buildings of different periods and categorise it as Jain architecture.

• Thus the Jain architecture can be considered as early as 2nd century BC. to 17th century AD.

• Those which belongs upto 12th century can be considered as Early Jain period and 12th century onwards may be considered as Later
Jain architecture. This basis is only for architectural consideration.
 Life Cycles

Western: Jainism:
Linearity of Life Cycle of Life

heaven nirvana

cycle
cycleofof
life/death
life/death
birth: death enlightenment
pure state hell
elimination of
karmic bondage
Jain Architecture

• Early Jain temple architecture was mostly rock cut and bricks were hardly used. In later years, however,
brick temples were constructed in a large scale. At the same time, they also deviated from Hindu and
Buddhist sites to build on their own.

• The majority of Jain temples in India consist of three core building elements:
• Image chamber Garbhagriha
• Hall Mandapa
• Porch

• A fourth element, referred to as Antarala, can also be seen lying between the image chamber and its hall.
Antarala, a small vestibule is a space where worshippers can stand and gaze at the icon or follow rituals
conducted within the shrine.
IDEAL PLAN OF A JAIN
TEMPLE
Jain Architecture
Prominent features of a Jain Temple –

• As opposed to solitary Hindu temples, Jain temple architecture are mostly found in the form of temple-cities.

• These temple-cities are large temple compounds, which contain large numbers of individual or interconnected temples and shrines.

• Most of Jain pilgrimage sites were built on hilltops which include Palitana temple in Gujarat, Sonagiri temple in M.P. etc.

• The chambers of these temples have pointy domes and wherever there is dome, the pillars are omitted to create an octagonal space within.

• Jain temples are noted for the use of rich materials like marble and ornamentation.

• Domes or shikharas on the top are usually smaller than the ones found in Hindu temples.

• These multiple dome points, reaching toward the sky give a very distinct appearance to Jain temple cities.

• Jain temples have numerous pillars having a well designed structure, forming a square.

• The squares thus formed create chambers or chapels which contains the image of a deity.

• These pillars and roofs of the temple are richly carved and well decorated.
Jain Architecture
Prominent features of a Jain Temple –

• Unlike Buddhist Viharas, the Jain viharas do not have the assembly or prayer hall surrounded by cells.

• The cells of Jain viharas are small and plain, designed to observe rigorous asceticism by Jain monks.

• The doorways are also small and one has to bend or crawl to enter a cell.

• Jain temples were mostly built on platforms or terraces, commonly referred to as Jagati or Vedi .

• Even rock-cut cave temples have platforms. This was done to elevate the temple above the surrounding surface and create a
distinct sacred area.

• Jain temples are enclosed by free-standing high compound walls, called as Prakara.

• Structurally speaking, a Jain temple is constructed on a square plan with openings in four cardinal directions, each of which
could lead to the image of a Tirthanakara. The Chamukh temple of Lord Adinath is a characteristic example of the four-door
temple.
Rock cut temple, Badami
Jain Architecture
EARLY JAIN PERIOD: 3RD CENT. BC. TO 12TH CENT. AD.
• The examples include rockcut caves in Barbara Hills, Gaya like Lomas Rishi, Rani Gumpha (Queens cave), rockcut
monasteries in Khandagiri and Udaigiri at Orissa.
• These caves and structures were built during the period of Ashoka for the use of Ajivaka (Jaina) aesthetics.
• The next example of this early period can be seen during 6th cent. Of Chalukya period at Aihole & Badami.
• All these structures are again rockcut architecture similar to Buddhist structures but built along with Hindu structures.
• The Jain cave at Aihole is partly rockcut and partly structural and is larger than the Badami cave.
• In the front, it has a rectangular Mantapa with cella at the rear containing the image of Thirthankara.
• The next group of Jain structures can be seen during the period of Rashtrakulas during 6th century.
• All these examples can be seen at Ellora. At Ellora cave no. 30 to 35 i.e. 6 in number belong to Jainas.
• The important which are worth considering are Chola kailasa, Indra Sabha and Jagannath Sabha .
Jain Architecture
EARLY JAIN PERIOD: ROCK CUT CAVES AT
BADAMI
• The Badami Cave Temples are composed of four caves, all carved out
of the soft Badami sandstone on a hill cliff in the late 6th century.
• The four caves are simple in style.
• The entrance is a verandah with stone columns and brackets, a
distinctive feature of these caves, leading to a columned mantapa and
then to the small square shrine (sanctum sanctorum) cut deep into the
cave.
• The temple caves represent different religious sects.
• The fourth cave is the only Jain temple at Badami.
• The cave enshrines a number of statues of the Jain Tirthankaras in
different postures. While Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, is depicted in a
sitting posture, Tirthankara Parshwanatha is carved with a serpent at his
feet.
 Jain Architecture
LATER JAIN PERIOD
1. In Later Jain temples we see that all temples were 'chaumukh' or having four entrances, so the garbha griha usually had four entrances
with four images or a group of different Thirthankaras.
2. This affected the layout design of temples considerably.
3. This provided more scope for designing of exterior and also the Vimana.
4. Usually the main shrine stood in an open courtyard surrounded by colonnaded small shrines.
5. The temple consists of entrance portico, having 8 to 12 columns arranged in the form of an octagonal set within a square.
6. A dome was supported by these columns having bracket type raking struts.
7. The horizontal courses with successively diminishing squares, arranged diagonally to each other finally formed the base for the dome.
8. The finial of the dome was 'Amalaka' or ornamental 'Kalasa'. This feature was repeated effectively over many parts.
9. Another innovation of this period was the interior ceiling decoration.
10. The ceilings were beautifully carved and fretted with central pendants, which resembled glass chandeliers in their delicacy and grace.
11. The main building material was marble. Even the ceilings were carved out of marble.
12. These temples were usually situated on top of hills.
13. Important Jain temples were of later period built on Mount Abu near Dilwara village, at Ranakpur and on Girnar hills etc.
Jain Architecture
LATER JAIN PERIOD
TYPICAL PLAN OF JAIN TEMPLE

1. Fundamentally this is a type of "Pancha-yatana"

surrounded by cloisters, every space is continuous and
unified as in the Ranakpur temple.

2. The five shrines are all "Chaturmukha" type having

respectively four "Ranga-mandapas" in front of four
faces.

3. There are greater "Meganada-mandapas" on the crossing

axes which connect five shrines, and they continue to
"Balanaka" (entrance hall) of four sides.
Dilwara Jain Temples
Jain Architecture
DILWARA TEMPLE, MOUNT ABU

• From the 10th through the 16th centuries, Jain ministers employed in Rajput courts
used their wealth to build a set of five temples at Mt. Abu, Rajasthan, 170 kilometers
north of Ahmedabad.

• Known collectively as the Dilwara Temples after a nearby town, they are clustered on a
hill located on the high plateau summit of the mountain.

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

• 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.
Jain Architecture
DILWARA TEMPLE, MOUNT ABU

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

• The columns and ceilings of the open pavilion are the climax of the sculptural program.

• At the Vimala Vasahi, twelve multifaceted piers, linked by flying arches, hold up a domed
ceiling.

• Sixteen female figures, personifying various aspects of learning, are attached in a ring around
the perimeter.

• The exterior wall, by contrast, is restrained in its ornamentation, masking the rich articulations
of the interior.

• 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
Jain Architecture
DILWARA TEMPLE, MOUNT ABU
1. VIMALA VASAHI TEMPLE

• 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.

• 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.
Jain Architecture
DILWARA TEMPLE, MOUNT ABU
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.

• The main hall or Rang mandap features a central dome from which hangs a big
ornamental pendent featuring elaborate carving.
Jain Architecture
DILWARA TEMPLE, MOUNT ABU
3. PITTALHAR 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'.
Jain Architecture

DILWARA TEMPLE, MOUNT ABU

4. PARSHVANATHA 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 the shrines at Dilwara.

• The outer walls of the sanctum comprise

beautiful sculptures in grey sandstone.
Jain Architecture
DILWARA TEMPLE, MOUNT ABU
5. MAHAVEER SWAMI TEMPLE

• 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
Adinath temple, Ranakpur
Jain Architecture
ADINATH TEMPLE, RANAKPUR

• The central main shrine is called "Mula-Prasada", the interior of which is

"Garbagriha" (sanctum), and its main statue is "Mulanayaka".

• For a Chaturmukha (four-faced) shrine, unlike the temples of Mt. Abu, there are no
"Gudha-mandapa" (closed hall) or "Trika-mandapas" (vestibule), but four
"Ranga-mandapas" ( A, assembly hall) in front of four portals of the main shrine.

• Each Ranga-mandapa is connected with a 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
ADINATH TEMPLE, RANAKPUR

• Around the smaller shrines and each side of them are 20 domes, supported
by about 420 columns.

• Four of these domes, the central ones of each group, are three storeys in
height and tower over others.

• The one that faces the principal entrance is supported by the very unusual
member of 16 columns.

• The dia of this dome is 36ft. and others are 24 ft. in dia.

• Light is admitted to the building by 4 uncovered courts and the whole is

surrounded by a range of cells, many of these now unoccupied.

• Each of these has a pyramidal roof of its own.

• These cells consist of images of Thirthankaras.

• Exterior of this temple very richly carved but whereas exterior is very plain.
Thank You!