Manastambha Explained

A manastambha (Sanskrit for 'column of honour') 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.

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.^[2]

Examples

Some of the well known Jain manastambhas are:^[3]

• Kirti Stambha of Chittorgarh. The Vijaya Stambha was inspired by this.
• Manastambhas of Devagarh
• Manastambhas of Moodabidri^[4]
• Manastambhas of Shravanabelagola^[5]
• Manastambha at Shikharji at Madhuvan

Manastambhas in South India are generally monolithic.

See also

• Jain Temples
• Tirthas

References

Sources

External links

• Chittor and its Kirti Stambha
• Jaina Architecture in Northern India

Notes and References

1. Web site: Tirthankaras: "Ford-Makers" . The Pluralism Project, Harvard University . 7 July 2018 .
2. 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
3. http://www.jainheritagecentres.com/jainavoice/jainavoice16.htm MANASTAMBHA
4. Web site: Moodabidri (Mudabdri) . Jaindharmonline.com . 2012-04-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120504193934/http://www.jaindharmonline.com/pilgri/mbidri.htm . 4 May 2012 . dead .
5. Web site: CHANDRAGIRI (Chikkabetta) . Mysoretourism.org . 2012-04-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307044844/http://mysoretourism.org/mahamastakabhisheka.htm . 7 March 2016 . dead .