The Architecture of the Early Medieval Jain Temple and Ritual The Analysis of Ellora Caves

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the analysis of various components of architecture and iconographic program of the Jain temple that can reflect rituals of that age; on the example of Ellora complex, this paper tries to understand the concepts embodied in architecture and sculpture, as well as transformation of ideas over time. Much information can be obtained from the comparison of the composition of Hindu and Jain temples. The scale of architecture and its images, spatial orientation, physiology of the architecture, and its mission bring adepts to spiritual rebirth. They play an important role and reflect the ritual as well. From the yakṣas, who bestow the material welfare, through a palace-like space, the believer passes to the hidden place of garbhagṛha, where Jina sits in absolute darkness, silence and tightness; the role of meditating Jina is more a role model than an object of worship. Obviously, through the images we can understand that music played an important role in the ritual, as evidenced by numerous images of musical instruments; another level of interpretation of these motives is the concept of divyadhvani and devadundubhi and the concept of Jina's Keywords—Jain temple; Ellora; cave temple; Indian Architecture; Jain ritual; Samavasarana