Digambara Jaina Temple, Khandagiri

Digambara Jaina Temple, Khandagiri
Digambara Jaina Temple, Khandagiri Location in Orissa
Coordinates:	20°16′N 85°47′E / 20.267°N 85.783°E / 20.267; 85.783Coordinates: 20°16′N 85°47′E / 20.267°N 85.783°E / 20.267; 85.783
Location
Country:	India
State:	Orissa
Location:	Bhubaneswar
Architecture and culture
Primary deity:	Jaina tirthankara
Architectural styles:	Kalingan Style (Kalinga Architecture)
History
Date built: (Current structure)	12-13th century A.D.

Digambara Jaina Temple (Lat 20° 15’ 74” N., Long- 85° 47’ 08” E., Elev-287 ft) is a temple in Bhubaneswar, in the state of Orissa, India. The temple is situated on the top of the hill Khandagiri that is honey-comb with a series of rock-cut Jaina caves, those were commissioned by King Kharavela in 1st century B.C.The rock-cut caves are protected by Archaeological Survey of India. But the present Digambara temple is maintained by the Bengal, Bihar and Orissa Digambara Jaina Tirthankara Committee. This temple is living and facing towards east. The enshrining deities are a series of Jaina tirthankara images.

Ownership

Single/Multiple: Multiple
Public/ Private: Private
Any other (specify): It is maintained by the Bengal, Bihar and Orissa Digambara Jaina Tirthankara Committee.
Name: Bimala Devi Jain is the local caretaker.

Age

Precise date: The original temple was constructed quite earlier but the present temple is made out of building materials of the earlier temple may be dated to 19th century A.D.
Source of Information: Architectural features.

Property Type

Precinct/ Building/ Structure/Landscape/Site/Tank: precinct
Sub type: Temple
Typology: Pidha deul

Property use

Abandoned/ in use: In use
Present use: Living Temple
Past use: Worshiped

Significance

Historic significance: Local legends ascribe the temple to Mahameghabahana Kharavela of 1st century B.C. This however does not hold any ground on account of the architectural features.

Physical description

Surrounding: The temple is surrounded by Rushavanath temple in the south at a distance of 3.50 metres, northern compound wall at a distance of 2.50 metres and western compound wall at a distance of 11.50 metres. Orientation: The temple is facing towards east.
Architectural features (Plan and Elevation): The temple stands on a lofty platform that measures 16.00 metres in length x 9.50 metres in width with a height of 1.62 metres. On plan, the temple has a vimana and a jagamohana. The vimana measures 8.25 square metres and jagamohana measures 6.40 metres in length x 9.40 metres in breadth. This temple is triratha on plan. It is distinguished by central raha and kanika pagas on either sides. On elevation, the vimana is pidha deula that measures 5.80 metres in height from pabhaga to mastaka. The temple has panchanga bada. From bottom to top the temple has a pabhaga, talajangha, bandhana, upara jangha, baranda, gandi and mastaka. The pabhaga measures 0.47 metres, talajangha 0.42 metres, bandhana 0.16 metres, upara jangha 0.40 metres and baranda 0.45 metres. The gandi measures 1.80 with seven receding tiers arranged in two sets (potala); lower potala has four tiers and upper potala with three tiers and mastaka measures 2.10 metres.
Raha niche & parsva devatas: There are no parsvadevata niches and the walls are plain and without any sculptural embellishments and having a balustrated window in the northern side wall and this window are decorated with a series of pidha mundi.
Decorative features: Door Jambs: There are two door ways in north and east. The eastern doorjambs measure 2.88 metres x 1.56 metres, which is carved with khakhara mundi niches at the base. The northern doorjambs measure 2.20 metres x 1.04 metres.
Building material: Sand stone
Construction techniques: Dry masonry
Style: Kalingan

State of preservation

Good/Fair/ Showing Signs of Deterioration/Advanced: Fair

Condition description

Repairs and Maintenance: It is looked after by the Bengal, Bihar and Orissa Digambara Jaina Tirthankara Committee. Bimala Devi Jain is the local caretaker.

Grade (A/B/C)

Architecture: B
Historic: C
Associational: A
Social/Cultural: B

Threats to the property

Conservation Problem and Remedies:
Compound wall: There is a compound wall covering the precinct.

See also

• List of Hindu temples in India#Orissa

References

^{[1] [2]}

1. ^ Pradhan, Sadasiba (2009). Lesser Known Momunents Of Bhubaneswar. Bhubaneswar: Lark Books. pp. 1–2. ISBN 8173751641.
2. ^ http://www.ignca.nic.in/