Famous Temples in India

Architecture

The general plan is like that of the Dilwara Temples on mount Abu, the temple complex has 53 shrines, a major central temple and 52 minor shrines around it, one of which reputedly holds the original Parshwanath idol from 500 B.C. The main temple, facing east, is strikingly beautiful, in all white marble with majestic pillars. It stands in a court about 48 feet wide by 85 long, surrounded by a row of forty-four shrines with a corridor in front. The temple stands in a courtyard, which, from the line of the temple front, is covered by three-pillared domes. The temple, facing the east, is entered by a flight of steps that rise from the outer door to the covered area in front of the sanctuary. Over the porch is another large dome covering an area separated by a low screen wall from the area of the entrance hall, mandap, between it and the front of the temple itself. At the south-west corner and behind the cells on the left side is a row of chambers with cellars entered by lifting flagstones on the floor. The central houses images of Lord Ajitnath, the second of the Tirthankars, with the date 622 probably for Samvat 1622 or A.D 1565. On his right is Parshwanath with the snake hood marked 1175 (Samvat 1232), and on his left Santinath, the 16th Tirthankar, also marked 1175 (Samvat 1232). On the extreme right is the image of the black or Shamla Parshwanath carved out of white marble.