Manastambha

A manastambha (Sanskrit for 'column of honor') is a pillar that is often constructed in front of Jain temples or large Jain statues. In North India, they are topped by four Tirthankara images.[1]

According to the Digambara Jain texts like Adi Purana and Tiloyapannati, a huge manastambha stands in front of the samavasarana (divine preaching hall) of the tirthankaras, which causes someone entering a samavasarana to shed their pride.[2]

A monolithic manastambha is a standard feature in the Jain temples of Moodabidri. They include a statue of Brahmadeva on the top as a guardian yaksha.[3]

Examples

Some of the well known Jain manastambhas are:[4]

Kirti Stambha of Chittorgarh. The Vijaya Stambha was inspired by this.
Manastambhas of Devagarh
Manastambhas of Moodabidri[5]
Manastambhas of Shravanabelagola[6]
Manastambha at Shikharji at Madhuvan

Manastambhas in South India are generally monolithic.

Photo gallery

Kirti Stambha of Hutheesing Jain Temple
Kirti Stambha at Chittorgarh fort
Manastambha at Shri Mahavirji Temple, Rajasthan, India
Manastambha at Tijara Jain Temple, Rajasthan, India
Manastambha at Jain Center of Greater Phoenix (JCGP), Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Manastambha at Saavira Kambada Basadi, Moodbidri, Karnataka, India
Desur Jain temple and Manastambha at Desur, Tiruvanamalai, Tamil Nadu, India
Manasthamba at Ajmer Jain temple
Manastambha at Lal Mandir

References

Citations

"Tirthankaras: "Ford-Makers"". The Pluralism Project, Harvard University. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
Umakant P. Shah 1987, p. 11.
The Brahmadeva Pillars. An Inquiry into the Origin and Nature of the Brahmadeva Worship among the Digambara Jains, S. Settar , Artibus Asiae, Vol. 33, No. 1/2 (1971), pp. 17-38
MANASTAMBHA Archived 25 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine
"Moodabidri ( Mudabdri)". Jaindharmonline.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
"CHANDRAGIRI (Chikkabetta)". Mysoretourism.org. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2012.

Sources

Shah, Umakant Premanand (1987), Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana: Jaina iconography, Abhinav Publications, ISBN 81-7017-208-X

External links

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[1] "Tirthankaras: "Ford-Makers"". The Pluralism Project, Harvard University. Retrieved 7 July 2018.

[FOOTNOTEUmakant_P._Shah198711-2] Umakant P. Shah 1987, p. 11.

[3] The Brahmadeva Pillars. An Inquiry into the Origin and Nature of the Brahmadeva Worship among the Digambara Jains, S. Settar , Artibus Asiae, Vol. 33, No. 1/2 (1971), pp. 17-38

[4] MANASTAMBHA Archived 25 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine

[5] "Moodabidri ( Mudabdri)". Jaindharmonline.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.

[6] "CHANDRAGIRI (Chikkabetta)". Mysoretourism.org. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2012.