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A manastambha (Sanskrit for '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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[3]
Some of the well known Jain manastambhas are:[4]
Manastambhas in South India are generally monolithic.