Dilwara Temples in Rajasthan
The Dilwara Temples are situated on Mount Abu, the highest point in Rajasthan. Mount Abu is part of the ancient Aravalli hill range of Rajasthan. This location has the distinction of being the only hill station in Rajasthan – the only place where you find cool temperatures when the rest of Rajasthan sizzles in the desert summers.
The Dilwara Temple is a cherished part of the itinerary of the Jain pilgrim. The temples were built more than a thousand years back. The builders hauled blocks of marbles up the hill, placed them in formation, and chiseled away till they had crafted a monument of wonder. Because Jainism is against all forms of ostentation, the temple is not lavish on the scale of Hindu temples.
The decorations and embellishments are toned down. But that does not take away from the beauty and wonderful architecture of these ancient Jain temples. There are a total of five temples here, each dedicated to and named after a Jain Tirthankar, or Teacher: Adinath, Neminath, Rishabhdev, Parshwanath and Mahaveer Swami. The Adinath Temple was built by Vimal Shah.
The Dilwara Temple is a cherished part of the itinerary of the Jain pilgrim. The temples were built more than a thousand years back. The builders hauled blocks of marbles up the hill, placed them in formation, and chiseled away till they had crafted a monument of wonder. Because Jainism is against all forms of ostentation, the temple is not lavish on the scale of Hindu temples.
The decorations and embellishments are toned down. But that does not take away from the beauty and wonderful architecture of these ancient Jain temples. There are a total of five temples here, each dedicated to and named after a Jain Tirthankar, or Teacher: Adinath, Neminath, Rishabhdev, Parshwanath and Mahaveer Swami. The Adinath Temple was built by Vimal Shah.
The temple has arches, pillars, and mandaps, carrying carved representations of plants and flowers. Of note is the Rang Mandap, with a huge domed ceiling and colonnades depicting female deities in carved marble. The sanctum sanctorum of Adinath itself is simple, and this is the place devotees gather to offer prayers. The Neminath Temple was built by two brothers, who were in the employment of the local ruler.
The temple, while dedicated to Neminath, was actually built by the grieving brothers for the solace of the soul of their deceased brother Luna. The Rang Mandap features a domed ceiling, from which a huge chain is suspended. Of particular note are the carvings of 72 Tirthankars. The idol of Neminath in the Gudh Mandap room is made of black marble.
The Rishabhdev Temple is famed for the statue of Rishabhdev in the sanctum sanctorum. The temple was built by Bhima Shah, the Jain minister in the court of the local sultan.
The Parshwanath Temple was built considerably later than the first three temples. It has four mandaps done in sandstone. The walls have carvings depicting demigods and goddesses from Indian mythology and folklore.
The Mahavir Swami temple was built in the sixteenth century. The highlight of this temple is the artwork on the walls done by Sirohi artists.
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