Pataini temple

Pataini temple
Pataini devi temple
Religion
Affiliation	Jainism
Deity	Pataini Devi
Location
Location	Unchehara, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
Geographic coordinates	24°26′18.1″N 80°46′32″E
Architecture
Style	Gupta architecture
Date established	5th century

Pataini temple or Pataini devi temple is a 5th century Jain temple located near Unchehara town in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The temple was constructed during the reign of Gupta Empire.

Location

The temple is located on a lofty hill 12.87 kilometres (8.00 mi) North of Unchehara on Satna-Unchehara road in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

History

This temple, discovered by Alexander Cunningham in 1873-74, is noted to date back to Gupta Empire. The temple houses a 10th—11th century inscription that details the name of residing deities. The temple is wedged out by 0.3 metres (1 ft 0 in) from the back wall corner indicating an attempt was made to pull down the temple but was possibly interrupted by villagers.

Architecture

Plan of Pataini temple

The temple is a small 2.08 by 1.98 metres (6 ft 10 in by 6 ft 6 in) structure notable for its massive Gupta style single flat slab 2.34 by 2.24 metres (7 ft 8 in by 7 ft 4 in) roof. The temple enshrines a 1.07 metres (3 ft 6 in) idol of Jain Goddess Pataini Devi flanked by two male figures inside a small mandapa. The idol originally had 4 arms but are now damaged and thus idol is not recoginsable.

The temple entrance has an ornate door frame and features two remarkable mouldings which is a common feature of Gupta architecture.

Sculptures

Temple entrance with images of Jain and Hindu deities

The mandapa of the temple enshrines an idol of Jain Goddess Pataini Devi flanked by two male figures. The idol is surrounded by small figures, 5 above, 7 to the right and left, and 4 below the idol. Above these figures are carvings of Tirthankaras in lotus position with image of Neminatha seated on a pedestal with symbol Shankha (conch).

According to a 10th—11th century inscription, the figures are named as follows:

S. No.	Above	Left	Right
1	Bahurupini	Aparajita	Jaya
2	Chamunda	Mahamunusi	Anantamati
3	Padmavati	Anantamati	Vairata
4	Vijaya	Gandhari	Gauri
5	Saraswati	Mansai	Kali
6		Jwalamalini	Mahakali
7		Manuji	Vrijamsakala

The doorway outside has three figures, in the middle is an image of Rishabhanatha seated under a canopy with a bull pedestal. On the left and right sides, there is a five-headed snake hood image of Suparshvanatha and a seven-headed snake hood image of Parshvanatha. The presiding idol of Pataini Devi was identified Jain Goddess based on these three images by Alexander Cunningham. There are carvings of Shiva and Parvati below the images of Tirthankara. The bottom of the door jabs bears images of Goddess Yamuna and Ganga with attendants.

See also

• Kahaum pillar
• Aihole
• Bhitargaon
• Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh

References

Sources

• Archaeological Survey of India (1921). Progress Report of Archaeological Survey of India Western Circle (PDF). Baptist Mission Press.
• Beglar, J. D. (1878). Report of a Tour in the Bengal Provinces in 1872-73. Archaeological Survey of India. Vol. 8. Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing.
• Cunningham, Alexander (1879). Report of a Tour in the Central Provinces in 1873-74 and 1874-75. Archaeological Survey of India. Vol. 9. Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing.
• Datta, Sambit; Beynon, David (2016). Digital Archetypes: Adaptations of Early Temple Architecture in South and Southeast Asia. Routledge. ISBN 9781317150947.
• Rawlinson, H. C. (1881). "Royal Asiatic Society. Proceedings of the Fifty-Eighth Anniversary Meeting of the Societ". 13 (1). Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland: 1–136. JSTOR 25196867. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
• Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (1881). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Cambridge University Press.

External links

Media related to Pataini temple at Wikimedia Commons

• Pathain Devi statue image