Hutheesing Jain Temple

Hutheesing Jain Temple

Kirti Stambh, Hathisinh Temple
Hutheesing Jain Temple
Location within Gujarat
Coordinates: 23°02′28″N 72°35′23″E / 23.041088°N 72.589611°E / 23.041088; 72.589611Coordinates: 23°02′28″N 72°35′23″E / 23.041088°N 72.589611°E / 23.041088; 72.589611
Name
Other names: Hathisinh Ni wadi
Location
Country: India
State/province: Gujarat
District: Ahmedabad district
Locale: Ahmedabad
Architecture and culture
Primary deity: Dharmanath
Important festivals: Mahavir Jayanti
Number of temples: 1
History
Date established: 1848
Creator: Premchand Salat

Hutheesing Temple (Gujarati: હઠીસિંહનાં દેરા) is the best known Jain temple in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India. It was constructed in 1848.[1]

History

Temple circa 1880

The construction of the temple was initiated originally planned by Shet Hathisinh Kesarisinh, a wealthy Ahmedabad trader who died at 49. The construction was supervised and completed by his wife Shethani Harkunvar. The total cost was approximately Rs. 8 lakh.,[2][3] then a major sum. The temple is dedicated to Dharmanatha, the fifteenth Jain Tirthankar.

Lockwood de Forest who was a business associate of Muggenbhai Hutheesing, the son of Sheth Hathisinh, estimated the cost as "over a million dollars".[4]

The temple was built during a severe famine in Gujarat. Building the temple employed hundreds of skilled artisans which supported them for a period of two years.

The temple is managed by a Hutheesing family trust.

Architecture

The temple architect was Premchand Salat.[5]

The main building is double-storied. The mulanayaka is marble image of the 15th Tirthankara, Lord Dharamnath. The main temple houses 11 deities, six in basement and five in three bay sanctuary.[2] The main shrine lies on the east and temple is covered with a big dome supported by twelve ornate pillars.[5] In addition there are 52 shrines (devakulikas), each adorned with an image of a Tirthankara. The secondary shrines form a long gallery its three sides.

The front is exquisitely ornamented by a 'dome' shaped structure.

The temple has a unique Manastambha (or column of honour) inspired by the Jain Manastambha and the Kirtistambha at Chittore in Rajasthan.

Photo Gallery

See also

References

  1. Tourism, Gujarat. "Hutheesing Jain Temple". Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 Pandya, Yatin (18 October 2011). "Hathisinh Jain temple: A creative realism". DNA (Daily News & Analysis). Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  3. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Ahmedabad. Government Central Press. 1879. p. 282.
  4. Handicraft, Volume 3 National League of Handicraft Societies, Wood Carving in India. Lockwood De Forest. Handicraft Publishing Company, 1911
  5. 1 2 "Hathisinh Jain Temple". Gujarat Tourism. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
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