Manastambha

{{short description|Holy pillar in Jain temples}}

{{italic title}}

{{use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}

{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}

{{Jainism}}

In Jainism, a manastambha ({{ety|sa||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.{{cite web | url=http://pluralism.org/religions/jainism/introduction-to-jainism/tirthankaras-ford-makers/|title=Tirthankaras: "Ford-Makers" | publisher=The Pluralism Project, Harvard University | accessdate=7 July 2018 }}

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.{{sfn|Umakant P. Shah|1987|p=11}}

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.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

Examples

Some of the well known Jain manastambhas are:{{cite journal |url-status=live |url=http://www.jainheritagecentres.com/jainavoice/jainavoice16.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025140745/http://www.jainheritagecentres.com/jainavoice/jainavoice16.htm |archive-date=25 October 2006 |journal=Jaina Voice |date=August 2003 |title=Manastambha |volume=2 |issue=4 |via=Jain Heritage Centres }}

  • Kirti Stambha of Chittorgarh. The Vijaya Stambha was inspired by this.
  • Manastambhas of Devagarh
  • Manastambhas of Moodabidri{{cite web |url=http://www.jaindharmonline.com/pilgri/mbidri.htm |title=Moodabidri (Mudabdri)Jain Temples |publisher=Jaindharmonline.com |date= |accessdate=2012-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504193934/http://www.jaindharmonline.com/pilgri/mbidri.htm |archive-date=4 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}
  • Manastambhas of Shravanabelagola{{cite web |url=http://www.mysoretourism.org/mahamastakabhisheka.htm |title=Welcome to Mahamastakabhisheka - Chandragiri (Chikkabetta) |publisher=Mysoretourism.org |date= |accessdate=2012-04-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923191545/http://www.mysoretourism.org/mahamastakabhisheka.htm |archive-date= 2008-09-23 }}
  • Manastambha at Shikharji at Madhuvan

Manastambhas in South India are generally monolithic.

See also

{{Portal|Religion}}

References

=Citations=

{{Reflist}}

=Sources=

  • {{citation |last=Shah |first=Umakant Premanand |authorlink=Umakant Premanand Shah |title=Jaina-rūpa-maṇḍana: Jaina iconography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m_y_P4duSXsC |date=1987 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=81-7017-208-X |ref={{sfnref|Umakant P. Shah|1987}} }}