Dilwara Temples

Dilwara Jain Temples

Dilwara Jain Temples
Dilwara Jain Temples
Location within Rajasthan
Coordinates: 24°36′33.5″N 72°43′23″E / 24.609306°N 72.72306°ECoordinates: 24°36′33.5″N 72°43′23″E / 24.609306°N 72.72306°E
Location
Country: India
State/province: Rajasthan
District: Sirohi
Locale: Mount Abu
Architecture and culture
Important festivals: Mahavir Jayanti Paryushan Parv
Number of temples: 5
Date established: between the 11th and 13th centuries AD

The Jain Delwara temples of India are located about 2½ kilometres from Mount Abu, Rajasthan's only hill station. These temples built by Vastupal Tejpal[1][2] between the 11th and 13th centuries AD are world famous for their stunning use of marble. The five legendary marble temples of Dilwara are a sacred pilgrimage place of the Jains. Some consider them to be one of the most beautiful Jain pilgrimage sites in the world. The marble temples have an opulent entranceway, the simplicity in architecture reflecting Jain values like honesty and frugality. The temples are in the midst of a range of forested hills. A high wall shrouds the temple complex.

Although the Jains built some beautiful temples at other places in Rajasthan, some believe that none come close to these in terms of architectural perfection. The ornamental detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars and panels is simply marvellous.

For the people who come to perform puja here, there are facilities to bathe and get ready, which is mandatory to perform puja to the idol. The facilities use passive solar power to heat up the water for bathing and other things. Guided tour hours for tourists are posted outside the temple.

Five Unique Temples of Dilwara

There are five temples in all, each with its own unique identity. Each is named after the small village in which it is located. These are:

The most famous of these are the Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi temples.

Vimal Vasahi Temple

Ceiling of Jain Temple

This temple carved entirely out of white marble was built in 1031 A.D. by Vimal Shah, a minister of Bhimdev I, the Chalukya[3] King (Solanki Maharaja) of Gujarat. The temple is dedicated to Lord Rishabha. The temple stands in an open courtyard surrounded by a corridor, which has numerous cells containing smaller idols of the Tirthankaras. The richly carved corridors, pillars, arches, and 'mandaps' or porticoes of the temple are simply amazing. The ceilings feature engraved designs of lotus-buds, petals, flowers and scenes from Jain mythology.

The Rang mandap is a grand hall supported by 12 decorated pillars and nicely carved out arches with a breathtaking central dome. On the pillars are carved female figurines playing musical instruments and 16 Vidhyadevis, or the goddesses of knowledge, each one holding her own symbol which is believed to be memorial of victorious Brahma Kumaris follower from last Kalpa. However, this belief is questionable, as Brahma Kumaris knowledge maintains length of Kalpa is 5000 years, while referenced Wikipedia article says : "The definition of a kalpa equaling 4.32 billion years is found in the Puranas—specifically Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana."

The Navchowki is a collection of nine rectangular ceilings, each one containing beautiful carvings of different designs supported on ornate pillars. The Gudh mandap is a simple hall once you step inside its heavily decorated doorway. Installed here is the idol of Adi Nath or Lord Rishabdev, as he is also known. The mandap is meant for Aarti to the deity. The Hastishala (Elephant Cell) was constructed by Prithvipal, a descendant of Vimal Shah in 1147-49 and features a row of elephants in sculpture.

Luna Vasahi

The Luna Vashi temple is dedicated to Lord Neminath. This magnificent temple was built in 1230 by two Porwad brothers - Vastupal and Tejpal - both ministers of a Virdhaval, the Vaghela ruler of Gujarat. The temple built in memory of their late brother Luna was designed after the Vimal Vashi temple. The main hall or Rang mandap features a central dome from which hangs a big ornamental pendent featuring elaborate carving. Arranged in a circular band are 72 figures of Tirthankars in sitting posture and just below this band are 360 small figures of Jain monks in another circular band. The Hathishala or elephant cell features 10 beautiful marble elephants neatly polished and realistically modelled.

The Navchowki features some of the most magnificent and delicate marble stone cutting work of the temple. Each of the nine ceilings here seems to exceed the others in beauty and grace. The Gudh mandap features a black marble idol of the 22nd Jain Tirthankar Neminatha. The Kirthi Stambha is a big black stone pillar that stands on the left side of the temple. The pillar was constructed by Maharana Kumbha of Mewar. The remaining three temples of Dilwara are smaller but just as elegant as the other two.

Pittalhar Temple

This temple was built by Bhama Shah kavdia [Rajasthan]. A massive metal statue of first Jain Tirthankara Rishabha Dev (Adinath), cast in five metals, is installed in the temple. The main metal used in this statue is 'Pital' (brass), hence the name 'Pittalhar'. The Shrine consists of a main Garbhagriha, Gudh mandap and Navchowki. It seems that the construction of Rangmandap and the corridor was left unfinished as probably builder of the temple Bhamashah, who was minister of Maharana Pratap decided to aide Pratap in those difficult times. The old mutilated idol was replaced and installed in 1468-69 AD weighing 108 maunds (about 40 quintals or four metric tons) according to the inscription on it. The image was cast by an artist 'Deta' which is 8 ft (2.4 m). high, 5.5 ft (1.7 m). broad and the figure is 41 inches (1,000 mm) in height. In Gudh Mandap on one side, a big marble Panch-Tirthi sculpture of Adinath is installed.

Parshvanatha Temple

This temple, dedicated to Lord Parshvanath, was built by Mandlik and his family in 1458-59 It consists of a three storied building, the tallest of all the shrines at Dilwara. On all the four faces of the sanctum on the ground floor are four big mandaps. The outer walls of the sanctum comprise beautiful sculptures in gray sandstone, depicting Dikpals, Vidhyadevis, Yakshinis, Shalabhanjikas and other decorative sculptures comparable to the ones in Khajuraho and Konark.

Mahavir Swami Temple

This is a small structure constructed in 1582 and dedicated to Lord Mahavira. There are pictures on the upper walls of the porch painted in 1764 by the artists of sirohi

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ "IMAGES OF NORTHERN INDIA". Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  2. ↑ "Biyari in Manasollasa, A Chalukya Garb Primer, Introduction - so where are all the Chalukya Pictures?". Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  3. ↑ "Dilwara Jain Temple". Retrieved 2009-03-13.

External links

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