History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c19.s5.43

v1.c19.s5.43

In a field outside the same village is an ancient Jaina temple also in this style, and probably belonging also to the 8th century. On the east it has an open portico, 19 ft. wide by 20 ft. 3 in., the roof of which is supported on eight pillars standing on a low screen wall with four on the floor. The mandap or hall is 32 ft. 3 in. wide and 30 ft. 8 in. from east to west, having four square pillars on the floor and half pillars against the walls, with two round columns at the entrance to the lobby or ante-chamber of the shrine — all about equally spaced apart. The shrine is 8 ft. 11 in. wide by 9 ft. 9 in. deep, and is surrounded by a pradakshina passage. A peculiar feature is a stone ladder in the north aisle of the mandap leading to the roof, in the tower on which is an upper shrine, a common feature in most of the Jaina temples.¹