ELEMENTS OF JAIN ARCHITECTURE

PILLARS

All Jain temples have many marble pillars which are carved beautifully with Demi god posture.

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

The squares thus formed create chambers, used as small chapels and contains the image of a deity.

From these pillars, there are richly carved brackets that emerge at about two thirds of their height.

Jain Temples are seldom simple units, the most elaborate examples are buy a multiplication of basic form,

ROOFS

The roofs of these temples have pointy and flat domes and wherever there is a dome, the pillars are omitted to create an octagonal space within. And stonework ceilings that so elaborately carved.

ELEMENTS OF JAIN TEMPLES

Frequently seen four-faced or chaumukh design.

In these four-faced temples, the image of a Tirthankar faces back to back to face four cardinal directions.

Entry into these temples is also from four doors that face the cardinal directions.

JAIN TEMPLES

The founder of Jainism is Vardamana or Mahavira (Great Hero). But it is said that he is the last Tirthankara or Jina.

(Victor) and the first one is Adinatha. All of Jain temples are dedicated to one of the 24 Tirthankaras.

In Jain style of architecture, bricks were hardly used, and the system of carving out temples from rock faces was adopted.

In later years when Jains discovered the concept of mountains of immortality, they proceeded to deviate from Hindu and Buddhist sites and build on their own.

An important aspect to be noted is that Hindus and Buddhists built temples; Jains built temple-cities on hills.

To put it in their own words, they “ornamented these holy hills with a crown of eternal Arhatchaityas (tabernacles of saints) shining with the splendor of jewels.”

THE TEMPLE STRUCTURE

As mentioned earlier, the leading idea of the plan of the Jain temple is that of a number of columns arranged in squares. Wherever it was intended to have a dome, pillars are omitted, so as to leave spaces in the form of octagons.

By corbelling over the pendentives in level courses, the dome was gradually formed.

INTERIOR LAYOUT OF TEMPLES

The exits of Jain temples lead into a series of columned chambers into the central halls of the temple.

These columns, standing around for no apparent purpose, might make the place seem like a mindless labyrinth, but on closer scrutiny it becomes evident that there is a style and method in it.

Simply put, these are temples within a temple, divided into sanctums and surrounded by a range of chapels and shrines, and the maze of columns act as a defense against plunderers.

The principle impression gathered from these temples is the variety of their sections but in harmony with each other.

The pointed spires above each dome are different, yet it signifies the position of a chapel, hall or any other chamber inside.

THE ARCHITECTURE SPLENDOR OF JAIN TEMPLES

From the architectural perspective, Jain Temple-cities seem to rather cold compare to Hindu or Buddhist temples.

COMPARISON BETWEEN HINDU AND JAIN TEMPLE

HINDU TEMPLE

The basic form of a Hindu temple is [garbhagriha + mandapa].

The garbhagriha at Hindu temples means the “house of God” and accordingly it should be locked securely as a human residence.

JAIN TEMPLE

The basic form of Jain temple is “Four faced open form” in the temple design.

On the other hand, a Jaina temple is not a house of God, but a place where a “Tirthankara” (Jina) gives teachings. It is called “Samavasarana,” and the doctrine of Jina should be preached in all directions.

References:

http://www.walkthroughindia.com/festivals/religion/top-eleven-amazing-jain-temples-of-india/

http://www.slideshare.net/aziz_khan/jain-architecture-final-1-12744278