Kumbharia Jain temples

The Kumbharia Jain temples is a group of five Jain temples in the Kumbhariya, Banaskantha district in Gujarat, India. Constructed from 1062 to 1231 CE during the reign of the Chaulukya dynasty, they are noted for their elaborate architecture.

History

Kumbharia was one of the most important Jain centres during the Chaulukya period.Template:Sfn It is said that 360 temples existed in the region during the 4th century,Template:Sfn but most were destroyed by volcanic activity and only five remain .Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn These five Jain temples were constructed from 1062 to 1231 CE:Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

• Mahavira temple was built in 1062. This is the earliest Jain temple.
• Shantinath temple was built in 1082.
• Parshvanath temple was built in 1094 by the Chalukyan king Jayasimha Siddharaja.
• Neminath temple was built a little later in 1136 during the reign of Jayasimha Siddharaja.
• Sambhavanatha temple was built in 1231.

It is however unlikely that volcanism has directly destroyed any temples as there has not been any evidence of active volcanoes in India for over 500 thousand years (except on the Andaman Islands). Earthquake activity in India is however significant and may account for the destruction of such temples.

Architecture

The Kumbharia Jain temples are famous for their elaborate architecture.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Along with the Dilwara temples, Girnar Jain temples, and Taranga Jain temple, they are considered excellent examples of Chaulukyan architecture.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The Mahavira, Shantinatha, and Parshvanatha temples in the Kumbharia Jain temple complex are some of the most renowned Jain temples in India. These five marble temples vary in size, image carvings, and architectural detail, with each having its own characteristics.Template:Sfn Every temple is surrounded by a protective walled courtyard with elaborate porched gateways.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Refn

Mahavira temple

Mahavira temple, also known as Arasana samghacaitya, is the temple of the Jain congregation at ArasanaTemplate:Sfn (Aras in Gujarati means marble).Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn This temple's marble ceiling depicts scenes from Bahubali's life. The upper panel has a depiction of a war between Bahubali and Bharata chakravartin, showing both armies' horses, elephants, and soldiers. The lower panel depicts a duel between two brothers. The centre panel has an image of Bahubali in meditation being approached by Bharata and his wife.Template:Sfn Another ceiling features carvings of the past and future tirthankara with their parents.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn There are depictions of the life events of Mahavira carved on the ceiling of the temple.Template:Sfn The panels inside the temple also feature images of god, goddess, animals, trees etc carved in marble.Template:Sfn One panel feature image of a Jain Goddess with a goat's head with a child depicting Template:Lang of Mahavira.Template:Sfn The ceiling of the temple's porch houses a depiction of multi-tier Samavasarana.Template:Sfn

Shantinatha temple

Shantinatha temple is similar to Mahavira temple.Template:Sfn According to inscriptions, Shantinatha temple was originally dedicated to Rishabhanatha.Template:Sfn The temple houses an important icon depicting Ashtapad and dating to 1210 CE. The Ashtapad idol is a diamond-shaped altar that depicts the mountain with images of 24 Tirthankars facing all four cardinal directions on two levels. The top of the icon depicts the Samavasarana of Rishabhanatha with a Template:Lang image of Rishabhanatha.Template:Sfn

Parshvanatha temple

The ceiling of Parshvanatha temple bears an image of Parshvanatha with a hood of snakes similar to those of Vimal Vasahi.Template:Sfn The temple's stone idol of Ajitnatha stands on a pedestal bearing an elephant symbol. The temple features nine highly decked Template:Lang. The torana-stambha features carvings of vidyadevi, aparaicakra, Purusudatta, Mahakali, Vajrasnrnkhala, Vajarankusa, and Rohini.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The temple contains images of Sarvanha and Ambika as shasan-devata with the hood of a snake overhead.Template:Sfn

Neminatha temple

The pillars of the Neminatha temple are ornately carved in a manner similar to those of Vimal Vasahi and feature a Nagara style Shikhara.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn This temple contains an image of the Hindu god Ganesha that is similar to that of Luna Vasahi and the Ranakpur Jain temple.Template:Sfn The temple includes miniature carvings of vidya-devi like aparaicakra, Vajrasnrnkhala, Sarvastra-Mahajvala, Rohini, and Vairotya, which were popular iconographies in western India during the 11th and 12th centuries.Template:Sfn According to an inscription, the munisuvrata-bimba was installed in 1281 CE (VS 1338).Template:Sfn

Sambhavanatha temple

The Sambhavanatha temple is a small temple and a typical example of rich Chaulukyan architecture.Template:Sfn According to an inscription in the Mahavira temple, the idol was gifted by "Pahini" in 1085 CE and the temple was originally dedicated to Shantinatha.Template:Sfn The original idol of the temple was later mutilated and replaced with a new idol.Template:Sfn The temple has a representation of the Hindu goddess Saraswati on its ceiling.Template:Sfn

Conservation

The temples, which have undergone repairs, renovations, and modifications,Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn are managed by the Anandji Kalyanji Trust.Template:Sfn

See also

• Mahavira Jain temple, Osian
• Taranga Jain temple
• Ambaji

References

Bibliography

Books

• Lists of the Antiquarian Remains in the Bombay Presidency{{#if:Burgess|, Burgess}. Government Central Press(1885)
• Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Pálanpur, and Mahi Kántha{{#if:Campbell|, Campbell}. Government Central Press(1880)
• Framing the Jina: Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History{{#if:Cort|, Cort}. Oxford University Press(2010). ISBN 978-0-19-538502-1
• India Guide Gujarat{{#if:Desai|, Desai}. India Guide Publications(2007). ISBN 9780978951702
• Jaina Iconography{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Brill(1978). ISBN 978-90-04-05259-8
• A Thousand Petalled Lotus: Jain Temples of Rajasthan : Architecture & Iconography{{#if:Kumar|, Kumar}. Abhinav Publications(2001). ISBN 9788170173489
• Abu to Udapiur{{#if:Mehta|, Mehta}. Motilal Banarsidass(1970). ISBN 978-0718921439
• The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective{{#if:Neubauer|, Neubauer}. Abhinav Publications(1981). ISBN 9780391022843
• Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana: Jaina iconography{{#if:Shah|, Shah}. Abhinav Publications(1987). ISBN 978-81-7017-208-6
• Jaina Shrines in India{{#if:Tandon|, Tandon}. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting(1986). ISBN 978-81-230-2454-7
• Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-Violence{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Motilal Banarsidass(1998). ISBN 978-81-208-1534-6
• Gujarat–Daman–Diu: A Travel Guide{{#if:Ward|, Ward}. Orient Blackswan(1998). ISBN 9788125013839

Web

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• "The International Jaina Style? Māru-Gurjara Temples Under the Solaṅkīs, throughout India and in the Diaspora.". Ars Orientalis({Template:Year).
• Review of The Temples in Kumbhāriyā, by M. A. Dhaky & U. S. Moorti. SOAS University of London({Template:Year).
• A Parshvanatha Sculpture in Cleveland. Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art({Template:Year).
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• The temples - Tradition, Sonar, Jagdish Chandra. shodhganga(1985).
• Kumbhariya. Gujarat Tourism. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
• Kumbhariya Jain Temple, Ambaji. Gujarat Government.
• Kumbhariya, Sonar, Jagdish Chandra. shodhganga.