|
|
|
Location:
Dilwara Jain Temples are situated in Dilwara village 3 km from Mount Abu, the famous and beautiful hill station of
Rajasthan. Dilwara is adorned with beautiful Jain shrines and considered to be one of the wonders of the world. The temples are
constructed in 11th and 12th century A.D. are completely made of
marble. The Dilwara temples are a composite cluster of 5 temples.
Archaeological evidence suggests that Mahavira himself visited the
site, making it especially sacred to the Jains as a tirtha. As a temple city it ranks among the finest ones of the Jains. |
Dilwara Jain Temples |
|
There are 5
temples in all, each with its own unique identity. Each is named
after the small village in which it is located. These are:
1. Vimal Vasahi (Shri Adi Nathji temple) dedicated to the
first Jain Tirthankar lord Rishabh
2. Luna Vasahi (Shri Neminathji temple) dedicated to the 22nd
Jain Tirthankar lord Neminatha
3. Pithalhar (Shri Rishabha Devji temple) dedicated to the
first Jain Tirthankar lord Rishabh.
4. Khartar Vasahi (Shri Parshva Nathji temple) dedicated to
the 23rd Jain Tirthankar lord Parshva.
5 Mahavir Swami (Shri Mahavir Swamiji temple) dedicated
to the last Jain Tirthankar lord Mahavira
The most famous of these are the Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi temples
All these shrines belong to
different centuries. The first two are build wholly of white marble,
have got exuberant carvings and ornamentation work on the walls,
doors, pillars, mandaps, torans, ceilings etc. .The designs depict
life stories of Jain Tirthankars, scenes of Gods and Goddesses
of Jain mythology.
The
Vimal Vasahi temple:
The Vimal Vasahi temple (12th century AD), was built by Vimal Shah,
the minister of Bhima Dev I, Solanki ruler of Gujarat. He built the
temple at a cost of Rs 18.53 crore. It took 14 years to build this
temple by 1,500 artisans and 1,200 labourers. Vimal Vasahi has a
gudha mandap, navchoki, rang mandap, and a circumambulatory corridor
having 57 cells. In each cell, images of one or the other Jain
tirthankara is installed. This temple is essentially rectangular in
plan and is oriented on the East-West axis with the main shrine
facing East. The two pillared halls, the sabha mandap and the
navchoki, precede a third mandap without pillars. This unit
comprises the central core, which is ubiquitous in Hindu temple
architecture after the Gupta period. One of the descendants of Vimal
Shah named Prithvipal carried out certain constructions and repairs
in 1147-49 AD and to commemorate the glory of his family erected a
hasti shala in front of this temple. |
|
 |
|
The whole shrine covers
an area of 140 ft. long and 90 ft. broad. As we enter the temple we
get a glimpse of the grandeur of sculptured marble, exquisite
carvings of ceilings, domes, pillars and arches of the temple which
is beyond anyone's expectations. It has a sanctum, a Gudha Mandap,
Navchowki, Rang Mandap and a circumambulatory corridor having 57
cells. In each cell , image of one or the other Jain Tirthankar is
installed. In front of every cell, double carved roofs are screened
by double arcade of pillars. Cell numbers are marked and the name of
the idol installed in it is also written. The cells comprise
of ornamented lotus buds, birds, playing of musical instruments,
pancha kalyanak scenes (auspicious events in the life of Jain
tirthankaras), elephants, horses, images of Gajalakshmi and
Shankeshwari, Ambika Devi, representations of Lord Krishna subduing
the Kaliya Naga, Krishna and his brother Baladeva and friends
playing with a ball, Krishna on Sheshayana, sixteen armed Goddess
Vidya Devi, Saraswati, Indra, Agni, Yama, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera,
tirthankaras surrounded by flying demi gods riding swans, peacocks,
horses, beautiful big sculptures of the sixteen armed goddess
Shitalmata, unique relief of the many armed Narasimha tearing the
belly of Hiranya Kashipu are very intricate and subtle in their treatment of expressions.
|
|
|
Rang
Mandap: A grand Hall supported by 12
decorated pillars and nicely carved out arches with a central dome
in the most exquisite design. The ranga mandap is the most
impressive structure supported by twelve decorated pillars and
nicely carved out arches with a central dome in the most ethereal
design, luxuriant in ornamentation and punctilious details having
eleven concentric rings of elephants, horsemen, ducks, swans and a
group of ornamental pendants of fine carving hanging down in the
centre. The variety of sculpted panels is simply mind boggling
covering every inch of marble. The dancing sculptures on the pillars
are the most attractive part of the sculptural treatment. They vary
in sizes accordingly. There are both male and female dancing
sculptures. You can also see designs with heavy ornamentation work.
On the pillars are placed the female figures playing musical
instruments and 16 Vidhyadevis - the goddesses of knowledge - each one having her own symbol.
Navchowki: It comprises of the nine
rectangular ceilings, each one containing beautiful carvings of
different designs supported on the ornate pillars.
Gudh-Mandap: Inside the profusely
decorated doorway, is installed principal deity Bhagwan Rishbha ,
the first Jain Tirthankar. Gudh-Mandap is simple, meant for obeisance and 'Arti' to the deity. . |
Indian Postal Department has issued two beautiful stamps on World famous Jain Temples of
Dilwara and Ranakpur on 14th Oct. 2009. These both multicolored stamps depicts images of the Temples along with
the unique architectures of these Temples. Miniature Sheet, First Day Cover and Information brochure of these Stamps have also been issued. Both the stamps are of
the denomination of Rs. 5/- each.
|
|
Jain Swarswati in Jain temple
Hastishala
( (Elephant Cell): Hastishala was constructed by Prithvipal, a decedent of Vimal Shah in 1147-49 A.D. In the front
entrance statue of Vimal Shah originally carved in marble is seen, the statute was mutilated and was repaired by plaster. A Smavasaran,
circular in shape, is also noteworthy |
|
|
|
