Jain architecture is as distinct in character from the Brahmanical as their religion. There is generally a chasteness and simplicity in their temples, affording a wide contrast to the ela7 bOrately sculptured ahrincs of the S.siva and other polytheist sects of India. The design of the Jain temple at Komuliner is truly classic, and consists only of the sanctuary, which has a vaulted dome and colonnaded portico all round. A temple at Ilallybede, about GO miles N.W. of Seringapatam, in Mysore, is almost identical with that at Komulmer. But Colonel Tod found that Saiva sectarians had introduced into the Jain temple of Komulmer a massive monolithic emblem in black marble of the Ilindu Jivi-pitri. At Kuraira is a temple of some celebrity, dedicated to the twenty third of tile Jain apostles, Parswanath. There are inscriptions recording its foundation in S. 11, and several from 1300 to 1350. The temple is imposing, and though evidently erected in the decline of the arts, may be considered a good specimen of the twelfth century. It consists of two domes, supported by numerous massive eolunins of a species of porphyry of close texture, excessively hard, and taking a fine polish. • The capitals of the columns are filled with figures of the Jain pontiffs. The domes are of nearly equal diameters, about 30 feet each, and about 40 in height ; under the further one is the sanctum of Parswa. There is a splendid colonnaded vestibule at the entrance, richly sculptured, which gives a very grand appearance to the whole edifice, but it stands in the midst of desolation. In the Tinne velly district is v. rock temple, Kalugumalei, covered with Jain figures and inscriptions. These inscriptions have been pronounced the oldest specimens of the Tamil language hitherto dis covered. The Tamil character of the inscription is different from the Tainil character of to-day, but the germ of the present character is con tained in it. In a field close to Nagalapuram, in Ottapedaram taluk, is a colossal Jain image. There is a small Jain image in the villa,ge of Kolatur, and it is worshipped by the natives, who apparently do not know what it is. There is another in the ancient village of Kolkhei, near to Sawyerpuram. Many cinerary urns in cromlechs, notably in Courtallum. There are many iron implements and exquisite pottery in them. The neighbourhood of the Jain image at Nagalapuram abounds with these urns. The old Jain temple, Kaluguinalci, is dedicated to the god Subramanya, Siva's youngest son. According to
the oldest legends, Subrnmanya is the god of war, and that the Jains in the south were cruelly exter minated by tile Saivites is a matter of history. Each inscription designates the image above it a Tirru Meni, the usual term for a Jain saint. Some of the Jain temples around Mount Abu are gland, and large sums have been expended on hem.
In Southern India the great religious institu tions are Srisailam in Cuddapah, Conjeveram, Chellambrarn, Srirangain, etc. There are also many others of great architectural merit, very worthy of being depicted and preserved for the beauty of their sculpture aud elegance of their design, such as the stone mantapam in the fort at Vellore, since used as an arsenal and cutcherry ; the temples at nuijore, Gangondaram, and Tribliuwanam, the ruins of Bijanagar, the pagodas at Leepichi in Bellary, and of Tadpatry in Cuddapah, with many others equally worthy of admiration in secluded and desert places, little kuown beyond their immediate neighbourhood.
Nearly all the finest buildings of early times have been constructed of stone, while the edifices of modern times, that is since about the fourteenth century, comprising some of the inost stupendous piles at present to be met with, are of brick.
At Satara, a Hindu temple erected to Vishnu by Anand Rao 13hikaji, Rasti, cost Rs. 2,16,250, and he built a Wada at Wai in A.D. 1789 at a coat of Its. 1,02,000.
The mandap or antansla is the entrance-hall of a Hindu teniple. In front of a Hindu temple is the dipmal, usually a monolith pillar, on which lamps are suspended.
A Buddhist temple has the gala or neck of the dagoba, the garblia (womb), the shrine, the dome, the li'tee, the finial, and umbrella on a Burmese dagoba. In China, at the entrance of Buddhist temples there are generally placed colossal figures or pictures of four great beings, possessing dif ferent attributes. They are the polia or svarders of the place. The Confucian temples have by rights no images iu them, the monumental tablet being the object of worship among the disciples of Confucius, and before which they burn incense and pray. In all other temples the idols are multitudinous, not only of Buddha him self in his three attitudes, contemplation, exhort tion, and repose, but of many other deities, such as the god of war, the god of agyiculture, the queen of heaven, and numberless others.—Frere, Antipodes, p. 229 ; Tod's Rajasthan; Cole. Ill. Build. Kashm.