History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c19.s5.19

v1.c19.s5.19

singly in front of the temples, and were apparently intended to carry quadruple figures of Tîrthankaras—known as Chaumukhs. They generally consist of a single block of granite, square at base, changing to an octagon, and again to a figure of sixteen sides, with a capital of very elegant shape. Some, however, are circular, and, indeed, their variety is great. They range from 30 ft. to 40 ft. and even 50 ft. in height, and, whatever their dimensions, are among the most elegant specimens of art in southern India. Typical Jaina examples of these exist at Sravana-Belgola and Venûr in Mysore and at Guruvâyankeri in South Kanara (Woodcut, vol. ii., No. 308).