Adinath Temple

Adinath Mandir is another Jain temple built in eleventh century in Khajuraho, dedicated to a Tirthankara Adinath. The plan and design of the Adinath temple is similar to other Jain temples, high platform base, a square layout with entrances in four cardinal directions, each of which might lead to the image of Tirthankara. The arched entrance and intricately carved pillars along with sculptured walls give the temple typical Khajuraho touch. Exterior walls feature sculptures of Hindu deities, flying vidyadharas, graceful women, and couples in love postures, mythical lion-like beings, dancers, musicians and girls in artistic postures. The niches feature sculptures of Jain Yakshinis; Ambika, Chakreshwari, and Padmavati. One sculpture found at the temple shows a sitting Adinath with an Ushnisha on his head. It features a Dharma chakra with a small bull figure. The right side of the seat has the figure of a pot-bellied Yaksha with a cup and a moneybag in his hands. The left side has the figure of the Yakshinis Chakreshwari sitting on a Garuda, having four arms each of the two upper arms hold a chakra. Another sculpture with similar iconography also features a Yaksha, a Yakshinis, and a bull with Dharma-chakra. Adinath is shown sitting in Padmasan pose on a cushioned seat with lotus and diamond motifs. Only two major parts of the temple now survive; the vestibule and the sanctum. The roof of the vestibule is particularly remarkable for its elegant design. In the sanctum there is a black basalt statue of Lord Adinath with a three line inscription giving the date of establishment, name of donor and the name of sculptor.