Jain Art and Architecture

Jain Architecture

The elements of Jain architecture are characterized by their simplicity, elegance, and emphasis on symmetry and proportion.

• With regard to architecture, the Jains adopted the local building traditions of Vaishnava and Dravidian styles while evolving their style.
• The exquisite Jain architecture consists of caves, temples, monasteries and other structures.
• In ancient times, they received great patronage under the ruling dynasties of Cholas,Pallavas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and other kingdoms.

Types of Jain architectures

• Stupa (Chaitya)
• Layana (Caves)
• Jinalaya (Temples)

Stupa (Chaitya)

• The Jains erected them for devotional purposes.
• The earliest Jain stupa was built in the 8th century BCE, before the Jina Parsvanatha.
• Structure: Jain stupa has a peculiar cylindrical three-tier structure that is quite reminiscent of the Samavasarana, by which it was replaced as an object of worship.
• As used in Jain inscriptions, the name for a stupa is the standard word “thupe”.
• Mathura Jain Stupas: A Jain stupa dated to the 1st century BCE-1st Kankali Tila moundcentury CE was excavated at Mathura in the 19th century, in the . 
• Ayagapatas: The Jain devotional reliefs, called Ayagapatas, show a probable design of the Jain stupa.
  • The stupa drum is set on a high platform and accessed by a flight of stairs and an ornate torana gate, quite similar in style to the toranas of Sanchi. 
  • The drum of the stupa is elongated and cylindrical and formed of three superposed tiers separated by railings and decorated bands.
  • The platform may have been squared, with Persepolitan-type columns in each corner.
  • On the Vasu Ayagapata, one of the Persepolitan pillars is surmounted by a Dharmachakra wheel, and the other pillar was probably surmounted by an animal, as seen in other similar Ayagapatas.

Layana (Caves)

• Caves, the earlier architecture found in Maharashtra, are of the Digambara Jain sect.
• These are found from the 6th century during the Chalukya period and continued during the Rashtrakuta period.
• Rock-cut architecture: The method of building a structure by cutting it out of raw is known as rock-cut architecture.
  • It is done by excavating solid rock where it naturally exists to create structures, buildings, and sculptures.
  • Temples, tombs, and caves were the principal rock-cut architecture applications.

Jain caves

Jinalaya (Temples)

Jain temple architecture is a style of temple architecture that developed as a part of Jainism. This ancient Indian religion emphasizes on non-violence and respect for all living things.

• Each element of Jain temples, like Mandapa, Garbhagriha, Mukhmandapa, Shikhar, Devakoshta etc, are designed to create a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere for meditation and worship.
• Some key elements of Jain temple architecture include:
• Jain temples have numerous pillars with a well-designed structure, forming squares.
• The squares thus formed create chambers, which are used as small chapels and contain the image of a deity.
• From these pillars, there are richly carved brackets that emerge at about two-thirds of their height.
• The only architectural variation specific to Jain temples is the frequently seen four-faced or Chaumukh design.
• Types of Jain temples: There are mainly two types of Jain temples: Shikar-bandhi Jain temple and Ghar Jain temple.

Types of Jain temples

Jain religious sites

Paintings

One facet of Jain art is painting, generally known as miniature paintings because most pictures are rendered in small sizes. Jain miniature paintings were developed all over India in the 7th century A.D. and reached maturity during the 15th century A.D.

Jain paintings

Jain Sculptural Reliefs

The brilliance of the Jain sculptures can be seen from the delicate images of the Jain Tirthankaras. The sculpture can depict any of the twenty-four Tirthankaras, with images depicting Parshvanatha, Rishabanatha, or Mahavira being more popular.

Mathura School of Sculptures:

This school was developed around Mathura, an important city on the Uttarapatha and the second capital of the Kushanas.

• The images discovered here belong to all three religions: Buddhism, Brahmanism and Jainism.
  • These were created using red spotted sandstone, readily available in the nearby Aravalli region.

• Features of Jain sculptures in Mathura school: 
  • They depict Jina in a seated or standing pose.
  • The standing Jina is straight, with hands long enough to reach the knee.
  • The seated Jina is in padmasana (lotus position or cross-legged posture) with hands in dhyana mudra. They are generally nude.
  • Jaina venerates 24 Tirthankaras who are distinguished by different emblems on their throne or chest: a lion for Mahavira, a bull for Rishabh etc.
  • They also donated reliefs to the stupa, known as ayagapatas, in the form of square slabs depicting Jina stupa, swastika, twin fish symbols, various scenes etc.
• Jain sculptures have been recovered from a ruined stupa at Kankali Tila. 
  • Kankali Tila is a mound located in Mathura.
  • Numerous Jain sculptures, Ayagapattas, and pillars were found here during excavations.

Examples of Jain Sculptures

• Lohanipur torso: It is a polished sandstone statue in Patliputra, Bihar, representing a Jain Tirthankara in a damaged state.
• Gopachal rock-cut Jain monuments: located around the walls of Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh.
  • They depict Tirthankaras in seated Padmasana posture and Kayotsarga posture in typical naked form.
• Vasantgarh hoard: it is located in Rajasthan; evidence shows a strong foothold of Jainism in this area as 240 Jain bronze idols were discovered.
  • Idols of this hoard show images of Tirthankara, sashandevatas (yaksha and yakshi) and Jain deities in Shwetambar iconography.