Manastambha

Manastambha "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 Jain texts, 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 Stambh of Chittorgarh. The Vijay 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.

Photo Gallery

• 
  Kirti Stambh of Hutheesing Jain Temple
• 
  Kirti Stambh 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

See also

• Tirthas
• Jain Temples

References

1. http://www.pluralism.org/religion/jainism/introduction/tirthankaras
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. MANASTAMBHA Archived October 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
4. "Moodabidri ( Mudabdri)". Jaindharmonline.com. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
5. "CHANDRAGIRI (Chikkabetta)". Mysoretourism.org. Retrieved 2012-04-21.

External links

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