Pataini temple

The Pataini temple or Pataini devi temple is a 5th century Jain temple constructed during the reign of the Gupta Empire and located near the town of Unchehara in Madhya Pradesh, India.

Location
The Pataini temple is located on Satna-Unchehara riad, 12.87 km north of Unchehara.

History
Discovered by Alexander Cunningham in 1873-74, the Pataini temple dates back to the Gupta Empire. The temple houses a 10th or 11th century inscription detailing the name of the residing deities. The temple is wedged out 0.3 m from the back wall corner, indicating an attempt was made to pull down the temple, which was possibly interrupted by villagers.

Architecture


The temple is a small 2.08 by structure notable for its massive Gupta style, single flat slab, 2.34 by roof. The temple entrance features an ornate door frame and two mouldings, another common feature of Gupta architecture.

The temple enshrines a 1.07 m idol of Jain goddess Devi flanked by two male figures inside a small mandapa. The idol originially had four arms and is now unrecognizable.

The idol is surrounded by small figures - 5 above, 7 to the right and left, and 4 below. Above these figures, carvings of Tirthankara in lotus position, with the image of Neminatha seated on a pedestal with the shankha, are displayed.

According to the inscription, the figures are named as follows:

The outer doorway shows three figures, Rishabhanatha, Suparshvanatha, and Parshvanatha. Carvings of Shiva and Parvati are shown underneath the images of Trithankara. The bottom of the door contains images of Yamuna, Ganga, and their attendants.