Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Dilwara Temples of Rajasthan are popular for their beautiful artistic work. Mount Abu is a beautiful and one & only hill station of Rajasthan. The striking use of marble, in the construction of this temple, is truly worth-admiring. The ornamental details of marble stone carvings is phenomenal and unmatched, The minutely carved ceilings and the pillars are just amazing. All this was done at a time when no transport or roads were available at a height of 1200+ Mtrs in Mount Abu, Huge blocks of marble stones were transported on elephant backs from the Arasoori Hills at Ambaji to this remote hilly region of Mount Abu. The temples have an opulent entranceway, the simplicity in architecture reflecting Jain values like honesty and frugality. The ornamental detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars, and panels is simply marvellous. It is said that workmen were paid in gold according to the weight of marble powder scraped off.

The Dilwara Jain Temple complex consists of five major temples devoted to the five Jain Tirthankaras :

Vimal Vasahi Temple or Shri Adinath Temple - Out of the five temples, the first temple is Vimal Vasahi Temple that is dedicated to Lord Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankar Lord. In 1021, Vimal Vasahi Temple was built by Vimal Shah, the Solanki Maharaja of Gujarat. Encircled by a passageway, the temple is erected in an open square. This temple is adorned with carved passages, columns, arches and doorways. The ceilings of this temple are festooned with patterns of petals, flowers, lotus-buds and murals depicting scenes from the mythology. There is a huge hall, which is known as Rang Mandap. This hall looks marvelous with its 12 ornamented pillars and beautifully carved out arches in the midst of a spectacular central dome. The temple also comprises an assortment of nine rectangular ceilings that is commonly recognized as Navchowki. Gudh Mandap is the main hall, where the idol of Lord Adinath is placed. Another feature is 'Hathishala' (Elephant Cell) that portrays a lane of sculpted elephants.

The ceilings feature engraved designs of lotus-buds, petals, flowers and scenes from Jain mythology. The figures of animal life, life journey from dream to incarnation of tirthankars are carved. There are 59 devakulikas(small shrine) facing the main image of Rishabhanatha. There are 7 additional cells are found, 1 cell houses image of Ambaji and 2 cells of Munisuvrata. The mulnayak idol of Rishabhanatha is finally carved with attendant deities and images of 4 tirthankar carved, giving the idol name Saparikar Panchtirthi.

Luna Vasahi Temple or Shri Neminath Temple - This is the second most important temple amongst the temples of Dilwara. Built in 1230, Luna Vasahi Temple is dedicated to Lord Neminath, the 22nd Jain Tirthankara Lord. The main hall of the temple is known as Rang Mandap. This hall comprises a central dome with a carved pendant. Here, not less than 72 figures of Tirthankars are positioned in a circular band. Made on the same structural pattern, Luna Vasahi Temple also has a Hathishala with 10 marble elephants. Again, Navchowki holds nine delicately carved ceilings with intricate marble work. The main hall or Gudh Mandap has the idol of Lord Neminath that is carved out of black marble. On the left side of the temple, there is a big pillar made out of black stone by the name of 'Kirti Stambha'. This temple has one hall named Rag Mandapa which has 360 tiny idols of Jain trithankar all minutely crafted on marble.

Pittalhar Temple or Shri Rishabdaoji Temple - Pittalhar Temple is dedicated to Lord Rishabdeo, the first Jain Tirthankara Lord. Built by Bhima Seth, the temple comprises a huge image of Lord Rishabhdeo. This image is made of five metals and brass (pital) forms the major part of composition. Due to this fact, this came to be known as 'Pittalhar'. Once again, the temple contains a Garbhagraha, Gudh Mandap (main hall) and a Navchowki. It seems that the construction of Rangmandap and the corridor was left unfinished. The old mutilated idol was replaced and installed in 1468-69 AD weighing 108 maunds (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. Some shrines (devakulika) were constructed in 1474 and 1490, before construction was abandoned.

Shri Parshavnath Temple or Khartar Vasahi Temple - In 1459, Parshavanath Temple was built by Mandlik. This three-storied building is dedicated to Lord Parshavanath, the 23rd Jain Tirthankar Lord. This has the tallest shrine at Dilwara. There are four big Mandapa's on the four faces of the sanctum.  At the ground floor, there are four big halls on all the four sides of the chamber. The exterior walls are imprinted with striking sculptures carved out in gray sandstone. It consists of a three-story 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 housing a Choumukha idol of Parshvanatha. On the first floor, the Chaumukha idol the front iconography is of Chintamani Parshvanath, second Magalakar Parshvanatha and third Manoratha-Kalpadruma Parshvanatha all are depicted with hood of 9 cobra. The image of fourth image of Parshvanatha is illegible. In the corridor there are images of 17 Tirthankaras and paintings of flowers. There is depiction of 14 dreams of mother of tirthankar has before birth. On the second floor, the Chaumukha idol is of Sumatinatha, Parshvanatha, Adinatha and Parshvanatha. The idol of Goddess Ambika is also present. On the third floor, the Chaumukha idol is of Parshvanatha. 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.

Shri Mahaveer Swami Temple -This is a small structure constructed in 1582 and dedicated to Lord Mahavira. Being small it is a marvelous temple with carvings on its walls. On the upper walls of the porch there are pictures painted in 1764 by the artists of Sirohi. There are detailed carvings of flowers, pigeons, court-scene, dancing girls, horses, elephant, and other scenes. On each side of Mahavira, there are 3 idols of tirthankar. Outside the shrine, there is a marble slab of rectangular shape with a triangle stone over it containing 133 images of miniature-sized tirthankar with a larger image in center.