Jaina Art & Architecture
Art & Culture › Architecture · Topic 1.32
Jaina art and architecture is the sacred art of the Jain community, from the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves in Odisha of the 2nd century BCE to the marble temples of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is known for fine marble carving, Tirthankara images, manastambhas and temple cities on hills. Key examples are the Dilwara Temples at Mount Abu (Rajasthan), built by Vimala Shah in 1031 under the Solanki kings and by the ministers Vastupala and Tejpala in 1230, the Ranakpur temple, the Palitana temples (Gujarat) and the 57-foot monolithic Gommateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola (Karnataka), raised in 981 CE.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Architecture
At a Glance
- Faith Jainism, 24 Tirthankaras
- Early sites Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, Odisha
- Marble temples Dilwara (Mount Abu), Ranakpur
- Statue Gommateshwara, Shravanabelagola, 981 CE
- Hill temple cities Palitana, Girnar, Parasnath hill
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Architecture
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows the regional and Rajput styles and ends the long study of religious building styles in the macro. Jaina work cuts across the dynasty and region groupings. Previous topic: Rajput Architecture. Next topic: Tranquebar and Serampore British Fort St George 1640 to New Delhi 1931…">European Influence (Portuguese, Danish, British).
Which Are the Major Jain Monuments?
| Monument | Place and state | Builder and key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves | Bhubaneswar, Odisha | Cut under Kharavela of Kalinga; Hathigumpha inscription is on Udayagiri |
| Dilwara Temples | Mount Abu, Rajasthan | Vimala Shah built the Adinatha temple in 1031 and Vastupala and Tejpala the Neminatha temple in 1230; white marble with very fine ceilings |
| Ranakpur Temple | Pali district, Rajasthan | 15th century Adinatha temple supported by Rana Kumbha, built by Dharna Shah; a large number of carved pillars |
| Shatrunjaya (Palitana) | Bhavnagar district, Gujarat | Hill with hundreds of temples, a main pilgrimage for Jains |
| Girnar | Junagadh, Gujarat | Hill with Neminatha temple |
| Gommateshwara (Bahubali) | Shravanabelagola, Karnataka | Statue about 57 feet high, cut from a single granite rock, commissioned by Chamundaraya, a minister of the Ganga dynasty, about 981 CE |
| Meguti Jain Temple | Aihole, Karnataka | Built 634 CE; inscription by Ravikirti, court poet of Pulakeshin II |
| Ellora Jain Caves | Ellora, Maharashtra | Caves 30 to 34, including the Indra Sabha, of the Rashtrakuta period |
| Sammed Shikharji | Giridih, Jharkhand | Parasnath hill where twenty Tirthankaras are said to have attained liberation |
What Are the Features of Jaina Art?
- Marble work: lacelike carving on ceilings, pillars and brackets
- Tirthankara images: seated or standing figures in meditation, without clothes in the Digambara type
- Symbols: each Tirthankara has a symbol, such as the lion for Mahavira and the bull for Rishabhanatha
- Manastambha: a pillar of fame in front of the temple
- Samavasarana: a model of the divine assembly hall of a Tirthankara
- Tirthas: pilgrimage hill sites with many temples
- Cave temples: early rock-cut cells and halls
- Manuscript art: illustrated Kalpasutra manuscripts of the Western Indian school
What Else Should You Remember?
- Jaina architecture and sects: the Digambara and Svetambara sects differ in the dress of images, and their temples show different ritual styles
- Mahamastakabhisheka: a head-anointing ceremony of Gommateshwara held every twelve years, the last in February 2018, and the next is due in 2030
- Chamundaraya: a minister of the Ganga kings who also wrote in Kannada
- Hathigumpha: the Udayagiri inscription of Kharavela, in Brahmi script, is an important source of the Kalinga king’s deeds
- Dilwara ceiling: ceilings with lotus pendants and carved dancers without visible joints
- Chandragupta Maurya: tradition says he came to Shravanabelagola with Bhadrabahu
- Gwalior and Deogarh: rock-cut Jain sculpture at Gwalior Fort in Madhya Pradesh and a Gupta period Jain site at Deogarh in Uttar Pradesh
- Khajuraho: the Parshvanatha temple at Khajuraho is a Jain temple of the Chandela period
- Alternate names: Gommateshwara is also called Bahubali, and Shravanabelagola is also spelt Sravanabelagola
- Sculpture: the sculpture side is covered in Jain Sculptures
- Cave link: compare the early Jain caves with Buddhist Rock-cut & Stupa Architecture (Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta Caves; Sanchi, Bharhut, Amaravati Stupas; Chaityas and Viharas)
- Western Indian school: Jain patrons commissioned palm-leaf and paper manuscripts of the Kalpasutra in the 12th to 15th centuries, with bold lines and bright colours, which belong to the Western Indian school of painting
- Mount Abu: Mount Abu is the only hill station of Rajasthan, and the Dilwara temples are open to visitors with some rules on timings and photography
- Jain Sangha: the community runs trusts such as the Anandji Kalyanji Trust for upkeep of temples, which shows community-based heritage care
- Karnataka: Basadis are Jain temples in Karnataka, as at Shravanabelagola, Moodabidri and Karkala, and the Chandragiri hill has early basadis
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Match questions: Dilwara with Mount Abu, Gommateshwara with Chamundaraya
- Place questions: Palitana and Girnar in Gujarat, Sammed Shikharji in Jharkhand
- Early work: Udayagiri-Khandagiri and Kharavela
- Periodic event: Mahamastakabhisheka every twelve years
- Common errors: calling Dilwara a Hindu temple or placing Shravanabelagola in Tamil Nadu
As an analytical point, Jain patronage was largely by merchants and ministers, which explains the rich marble temples of trading regions. Their mass pilgrimages raise management issues for sacred hills.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Dilwara Mount Abu
- Gommateshwara Karnataka
- Caves Odisha
What Came Next?
The next topic covers European influence on Indian architecture. Next topic: European Influence (Portuguese, Danish, British).
Key People and Terms
- Tirthankara Jain teacher
- Kharavela Kalinga king
- Vimala Shah Dilwara patron
- Chamundaraya Ganga minister
- Digambara Sky-clad sect
- Svetambara White-clad sect
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Dilwara: Mount Abu, marble.
- Gommateshwara: 981 CE.
- Caves: Khandagiri, Kharavela.
- Hill tirtha: Palitana.
- Anointing every 12 years.
Do Not Confuse With
- Dilwara and Ranakpur Mount Abu temples versus Pali district temple
- Digambara and Svetambara Sects with different image dress
- Bahubali and Mahavira Son of Rishabhanatha versus the 24th Tirthankara
Memory Hook
Mount Abu in marble, Mysore monolith, Odisha caves.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about plural religions and heritage sites. These points give a balanced frame.
- Plurality Jain contribution to art
- Merchant patronage Trade and temple
- Management Sacred hills
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the contribution of Jainism to Indian art and architecture.”
How to Answer
- Intro Jain art from caves to marble.
- Examples Dilwara, Gommateshwara.
- Features Marble, tirthas.
- Issues Sacred hill care.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jaina architecture?
Jaina architecture is the temple and monument tradition of Jainism, known for white marble temples, Tirthankara images, manastambhas and hill pilgrimage cities. It ranges from the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves of Odisha to the Dilwara and Ranakpur temples of Rajasthan and the Palitana hills of Gujarat.
Where are the Dilwara Temples and who built them?
The Dilwara Temples are at Mount Abu in Rajasthan. Vimala Shah built the Adinatha temple in 1031, and the brothers Vastupala and Tejpala built the Neminatha temple in 1230, Vimala Shah served the Solanki rulers, and the brothers were ministers of the Vaghela rulers. They are noted for their delicate white marble carving.
Where is the Gommateshwara statue located?
The Gommateshwara or Bahubali statue is at Shravanabelagola in Hassan district, Karnataka. Chamundaraya, a minister of the Ganga dynasty, had it carved from a single granite rock around 981 CE. It is about 57 feet high, and a head-anointing ceremony is held every twelve years.
Which are the oldest Jain monuments in India?
Among the oldest are the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves near Bhubaneswar in Odisha, cut in the time of the Kalinga king Kharavela in the 1st and 2nd centuries BCE. Udayagiri has the Hathigumpha inscription, which records his deeds. They show early rock-cut Jain residences for monks.
What is the difference between Digambara and Svetambara images?
Digambara Jain images of Tirthankaras are shown without clothes, while Svetambara images are shown with a loincloth and often decorated with ornaments and crowns. Both sects build temples of the same architectural types, and Dilwara is mostly Svetambara while Shravanabelagola is Digambara.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Dilwara Temples are at Mount Abu.
In Rajasthan.
2 Gommateshwara statue is in Tamil Nadu.
It is at Shravanabelagola, Karnataka.
3 Khandagiri caves are linked with Kharavela.
A Kalinga king.
4 Palitana is a Jain pilgrimage hill in Gujarat.
Also called Shatrunjaya.
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