Jain Narayana Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka

Jain Narayana Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka

Jain Narayana Temple is a Jain Temple dedicated to Jain Theerthankar, Parsvanatha located in Pattadakal in Bagalkot District of Karnataka, India. This temple is part of Pattadakal Group of Monuments, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Temple complex is located on the west bank of the Malaprabha River. The Jaina temple at Pattadakal was built during the 9^th century, possibly with sponsorship from the Rashtrakuta King Krishna II or the Kalyani Chalukyas. The monument is a protected site under Indian law and is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/01/pattadakal-group-of-monuments-history.html

The Temple

It is a three-storied temple with the two lower stories still functional. The square garbhagriha houses an image of Parsvanatha. The adjoining antarala runs into a mandapa and finally a beautifully pillared mukha mandapa graces the visitor. A circumambulatory path, though with collapsed walls, is also present. The superstructure is built in a southern Vimana style with a four-sided amalaka at top. The plinth is decorated with triple mouldings.

The projections and recesses of the mandapa walls contain images of Jina in various postures among other figures. The pillars of the porch are partially lathe turned, and the doorway has on either side an elephant with its rider. A large figure of Makara (crocodile) in florid detail marks the entrance to the garbha griha.

Unlike the other temples in the Pattadakal complex, the Jain Narayana temple lacks Hindu deities and intricate panels of the other nine, but instead has a statue of a Jina carved into the north side kapota eave. Like the Hindu temples, this temple also features a square sanctum, a circumambulatory path, an antechamber, a mandapa and a porch. The mandapa is divided into seven bays at the north and south walls, with narrow niches containing seated Jinas.

The bays are in the North Indian style, and the tower storey has a carved square shikhara. The mandapa has a row of lathe-turned sand stone pillars. The kakshasana are decorated with the figures of dancers, purna-ghata, nidhis, vyalas but some of the artwork is only partially finished. The entrance features carvings of a life-sized elephant torso with riders. The niches of this Jain temple mandapa may have previously featured images.

The Archaeological Survey of India has conducted excavations at the site yielding evidence of an older temple and Jaina presence. According to the ASI, the excavations uncovered "the remains of a large temple complex built in bricks and also a beautiful sculpture of Tirthankara standing in sama-bhanga indicating the existence of a temple, probably belonging to the pre or beginning of the early Chalukya rule".

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/01/pattadakal-group-of-monuments-connectivity.html

Location