The interiors of the Seth Bhandasar Jain Temple are highly ornate. All wall surfaces, pillars, and ceilings have beautiful paintings, and the mandapa (pillared hall) of the temple is noteworthy. The paintings are from various themes, including depictions of twenty Tirthankaras, the lives and works of Jain monks, important pilgrimage sites, and teachings of the Jain traditions, among others.
Jinadatta Suri is depicted here with his disciple, who is curing a person of his ailment. The acharya (those who impart knowledge) is renowned for such miraculous deeds. This seventh oval painting (in clockwise order) in the lower/outer circle in the ceiling of the mandapa (pillared hall) is the last of four paintings dedicated to the miracles of Jinadatta Suri, through which the acharya saved several lives. The inscription reads, ‘Shri Jinadatta Suriji sapata spa dene ji vayo.’
The episode in the eighth oval painting (in clockwise order), in the lower/outer circle in the ceiling of the mandapa (pillared hall), oval painting deviates from the usual stories of the Dada Guru but holds importance in the context of the temple. The painting depicts a procession, the palkhi (palanquin) of Bhandaprasad, the Sethia credited with the patronization of the Bhandasar Temple. The procession shown in the painting is grand, with Bhandaprasad being carried in a palkhi by four men and accompanied by foot soldiers, cavalry, elephants, and horse riders. The procession is passing by a Rajasthani haveli (mansion). The inscription reads, ‘Shri Bhandaprasad ri Palkhi.’
The ninth oval painting (in clockwise order) in the lower/outer circle in the ceiling of the mandapa (pillared hall) is difficult to decipher. It appears to depict a sleeping couple, with a snake near the leg of the man. Outside the haveli (mansion) which houses this couple, there is an armed figure that looks like a soldier or guard in uniform.
One of the most well-known stories of the miracles of Jinadatta Suri, the eleventh oval painting (in clockwise order) in the lower/outer circle in the ceiling of the mandapa (pillared hall) depicts this episode of the story of sixty-four yoginis. The story takes place in Ujjain. Once, Jinadatta Suri was amidst a religious discourse when he foresaw that sixty-four yoginis were coming his way to disturb the gathering. The yoginis arrived disguised as laywomen. Jinadatta Suri asked his disciples to spread sixty-four mats for the yoginis, and using his powers, the acharya (those who impart knowledge) glued the yoginis to the mat. This way, the yoginis were compelled to attend the religious discourse and eventually became disciples of Jinadatta Suri. According to Lawrence Babb, this episode depicts the Jain attempt to tame the tantric goddesses. The inscription reads, ‘Shri Jinadatta Suriji 64 joganiya saji.’