JAIN

ARCHITECTURE
(3RD CENTURY B.C – 17th CENTURY A.D)

BY :
Ar. Lily Roy,
Assistant Professor
BMS College of Architecture, Bangalore
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FEATURES
• Jain architecture is an offshoot of Hindu and Buddhist styles.
• In the initial years, many Jain temples were made adjoining the Buddhist temples following the Buddhist Rock-
Cut Style.
• Initially the temples were mainly carved out of rock faces and the use of bricks was almost negligible.
• In later years Jains started building temple-cities on hills based on the concept of “mountains of immortality”.

• One peculiar variation found in Jain temples is that

they are four faced or “Chaumukh”. Hence instead
of a single figure with single face, one way, with
one entrance to the cell, they provided a quadruple
image or a group of 4 different Tirthankaras.
• This necessitates the shrine chamber with 4
doorways which affected considerably the layout
design of temples.

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ELEMENTS OF JAIN ARCHITECTURE
•Jain temples have numerous pillars having a well designed structure, forming square. The squares thus formed create chambers, used as small chapels
and contains the image of a deity.
•They introduced the colonnaded group of small shrines round the four sides of the courtyard in which the main temple stands. From these pillars are
richly carved brackets that emerge at about two third of their height.
•The rooms of these temples have pointy domes and wherever there is dome, the pillars are omitted to create an octagonal space within. 8 to 12 columns
are arranged in the form of an octagonal set within a square.
•The dome is built on horizontal courses with successively diminishing
square, laid diagonally to each other, with “Amalaka” or ornamental and
“Kalasa” at the top
•The only variation in architecture specific to Jain temples is the frequently
seen four-faced or chaumukh design.
•In these four faced temples, the image of a Tirthankar faces back to back
to faces four cardinal directions.
•Entry into these temples are also from four doors that face the cardinal
directions.
•Another innovation was the construction of beautifully carved and fretted
marble ceiling with central pendants almost like chandeliers in
their delicacy and grace.

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JAIN ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES
Jain Temples Jain Caves
• Karnataka has many Jain shrines. • In the Deccan:
Statue of Gomateshwara: Granite statue • Ellora Caves
of Lord Bahubali commissioned by • Odisha:
Chamundaraya, the prime minister of the • Udayagiri
Ganga kings; located at Shravanabelagola; • Khandagiri
18m or 57 feet high; world’s tallest • Rani Ghumpa
monolithic free-standing structure. • HaathiGhumpa

• Jain Temples at Mount Abu, Rajasthan

• Constructed by Vimal Shah.
• Also called Dilwara temples. Built
between the 11th and 13th centuries.
• Every ceiling has unique patterns.
Richly sculptured on white marble. The
exteriors are simple but the interiors are
finely carved and exquisitely decorated.
• Other Jain Temples,
• Tejpala Temple
• Adinath Temple
• Neminath Temple

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ADINATH TEMPLE, RANAKPUR
• The Adinatha Temple of Raunakpur is also named Dharma Vihara
Temple after its builder.
• The temple is very large. It stands on a basement of 60m x 62m
which is like a stronghold.
• On the top of a flight of stairs at the central entrance, there is a
three-storied "Balanaka" (entrance hall), which has a dome roof.
• A large number of columns are carved elaborately, and it is said that
no two pillars are alike in design.
• At a space that penetrates through two to three stories, various
heights of domes are placed, and their ceilings have sculptures that
are unbelievably intricate.
• Light is abundantly coming inside through gaps between ceilings
and from courtyards, highlighting the intertwined spaces and fine
carvings all around.
• The splendour of the space is so pure as the entire temple from the
floors to the ceilings is made of white marble.
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ADINATH TEMPLE, RANAKPUR

• The Adinatha temple conceived of as a Chatur-Mukha-Prasada,

i.e., the idol faces all four cardinal directions. This necessitates
a cell (Garbha Griha, no. 1 in the plan) with four doorways.
• The Sanctum is surrounded by halls, which are known as either
the Sabha mandapa (assembly halls) or Ranga mandapa (dance
halls, no. 2 in the plan).
• The one on the western side is prominent due to its size in the
axis of the main entrance. As a result, the cell is placed a little
to the east; this accounts for the ground plan not being a perfect
square.
• The central area of the temple is in the form of a crucifix and
encircled by an open rectangular courtyard (no. 3 in the plan);
in comparison with older Jain temples, the courtyard here does
not have much of the prominence.

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ADINATH TEMPLE, RANAKPUR
• Central Main Shrine is called "Mula-prasada,"
• Its interior is "Garbagriha" (sanctum), its main statue is "Mulanayaka."
• In the type of Chaturumukha (four-faced) shrine unlike the case of Mt. Abu, there are not "Gudha-mandapa" (closed hall) and
"Trikamandapa“ (vestibule),But four "Ranga-mandapas"(assembly hall) in front of four portals of the main shrine.
• Each Ranga-mandapa connects with three storied
"Meghanada-mandapa" (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. There are more than
100 statues in total.
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ADINATH TEMPLE, RANAKPUR
Detail Plan of the
Adinatha Temple

Bhadra -Prasada

Mula-Prasada
B
G- Garbha Griha
A- Rang Mandapa
A B -Meghnad Mandapa

B A G A B

A Maha-Prasada

Bhamati (Cloist)
B
Dev-Kulika

Balanaka

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DILWARA TEMPLE, RAJASTHAN
There are five temples in all, each with its
own unique identity.
1. Vimal Vasahi, dedicated to the first
Jain Tirthankara, Rishabha.
2. Luna Vasahi, dedicated to the 22nd
Jain Tirthankara, Neminatha.
3. Pithalhar, dedicated to the first Jain
Tirthankar, Rishabha.
4. Parshvanath, dedicated to the 23rd
Jain Tirthankara, Parshvanatha.
5. Mahavir Swami, dedicated to the
last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira.
The most famous are the Vimal Vasahi
and Luna Vasahi Temples. Each is named
after the small village in which it is
located.
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DILWARA TEMPLE, RAJASTHAN
• The Dilwara temples of India are located about 2½km from Mount Abu, Rajasthan's only hill station.
• These Jain temples were built by Vastupal Tejpal, a Jain laymen between the 11th and 13th centuries AD and are world famous for
their stunning use of marble.
• The five legendary marble temples of Dilwara are a sacred pilgrimage place of the Jains.
• 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
• Each temple sits high off the ground on its own terrace and is
accessed on its flank by steps spilling out from a multi tiered
porch.
• The plans are modelled 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.
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VIMALA VASAHI TEMPLE, MT. ABU, RAJASTHAN
• This temple is build by Vimal Shah, and is the oldest of all and dedicated to
Shri Adinath Ji.
• The temple has an open courtyard surrounded by corridors all beautifully
6
5
decorated with marble carved stones.
• Cells inside this temple are contain tiny images of Jain saints artistically
carved on marble stone minutely.
• The internal dome is aesthetically decorated with design's of flowers and 1
petals, the huge hall of the temple pillars decorated with the carving work of
female figures playing musical instruments.
• The temple also have the "Guda Mandapa" - A simple hall decorated with 2
the images of Shri Adi Nath.

3
Legend:

1. Garbha-Griha
2. Gudha Mandapa 4
3. Navchoki
4. Rang Mandapa/Sabha
Mandapa
5. Huge Sculpture of
Adinath
6. Goddess Ambika
7. Along the peri-phery
52 Deva kulikas(Small
or Subsidary Shrines)

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VIMALA VASAHI TEMPLE, MT. ABU, RAJASTHAN
1. THE RANG MANDAPA From the dome
• The Ranga mandapa/Sabha Mandapa is open from three sides. hangs down from
the centre is a
• Its eight pillars, forming an octagon, are lavishly embellished with floral,
pendant in the form
geometrical and figural motifs and they are linked to one another with of a lotus blossom
elaborately scalloped and intricately carved arches, so-called Toranas. (padamashila).
• A wide vaulted dome with a diameter of 6.6 m is covering the hall. A garland of low
hanging, conical
• 12 decorated pillars, surrounded by a series of sixteen brackets showing ornaments
the so-called goddesses of knowledge. surround it.

2. NAVCHOKI
• A portico with eight pillars that has added height.
• The “Navchowki” is a collection of nine rectangular ceilings, each one
containing beautiful carvings of different designs supported on ornate
pillars.
• Each of the nine ceilings here seems to exceed the others in beauty and
grace.

3. GUDHU MANDAPA
• Through it the bright statue of the first tirthankara is visible.
• Profusely decorated doorway.
• Gudh-mandap is simple, meant for obeisance and 'arti' to the deity.

4. THE AMBULATORY
• Fifty-two deva-kulikas (subsidiary shrines) have been arranged on an
elevated platform around the central edifice, each with the statue of a The marble temples have an opulent entranceway, the simplicity in architecture
Tirthankara. reflecting Jain values like honesty and frugality. The ornamental detail
spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars and panels is
simply marvellous.
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CAVE ARCHITECTURE
1. INDRA SABHA OR ELLORA CAVE 32
It is a double storied cave with a
monolithic sarvatobhadra shrine, a mana-stambha or pillar
and a free-standing elephant in the court, all enclosed by
a prakara wall with a gopura .

Upper Storey Interior

The lower storey of this cave is unfinished, while the

upper storey is the largest and most elaborately
decorated cave in the group with beautiful pillars, large
sculptural panels and paintings on ceiling.

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CAVE ARCHITECTURE
2. RANI GHUMPHA
This is the largest and the finest cave in the Udaigiri Cave
Complex. Facing west and built in two storeys, around
three sides of a quadrangle, it is lavishly decorated with
sculptures, friezes and motifs. The upper story is provided
with a recess in the front, forming an open terrace running
around it. The lower story has two entrances, with a female
figure in each one.

The Lower story, has four cells, three in the rear wall and
one on the right side. The veranda in front, once supported
on six pillars, has long fell off. The cells on the rear walls
have multiple entrances, middle has three and side cells
have two each. The cell on the right side has single door.
Like the side wings, doorways are made with arched torana
supported on side pilasters. These doorways toranas are all
interconnected with railings.

The upper story has an entrance on its long axis, and a

balcony with railing all around. A woman is standing in the
balcony while a male head is peeping out of entrance.

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CAVE ARCHITECTURE

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