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The
temples at Mount Abu were built between 800 AD to 1200 AD. Jain
temples at Mount Abu are built in the Nagara style of temple
architecture. Dilwara Jain temples demonstrate the amazing work of
marble for which it is well known and were devoted to the Jain
tirthankars.
The
ground floor of the temples has a colonnaded hall in which there is a
shrine of 23rd Trithankara.
Dilwara
Jain temples were considered as one of the holy sites for Jains which
truly conveys the values of Jains like their simplicity and honesty.
In 1032 A D, first Jain temple of Dilwara was founded by Vimala Shah.
Mahaveer
Swami Temple
Mahaveer Swami temple was founded in 1582 AD, it is a very small
temple. On the walls of the temple the images of Lord Mahaveer is
there. . This temple is also fully dedicated to Jain Tirthankara Lord
Mahaveer.
Pittalhar
Temple
Pittalhar temple was founded by Bhima Shah who was a minister of
Sultan Begada of Ahmedabad. A large metal statue of the Rishab Dev
Adinath is inside the temple which spreads in five metals. 'Pital' is
used to construct this statue so this temple is known as "Pittalhar
Temple". This temple also houses Navchowki, Garbhagriha and Gudh
Mandap. This temple is also famous by the name of Shri Rishabh Deoji
temple.
Luna Vashi
or the Teja Pala Temple
Luna Vashi temple was founded 1230 AD by Tej Pala and Vastu Pala who
were two brothers. Luna Vashi temple is devoted to Shri Nemi Nathji.
This temple attracts a visitor with the beautiful architectural style
of the temple in which it was built. This temple is constructed in the
Solanki style of architecture. One of the remarkable feature of this
temple is its dome which stands on 8 pillars. This dome of the temple
has very beautiful statues which are decorated perfectly which looks
like a cluster of half open lotuses.
Other most
prominent attraction of this temple is the principal cell which is
known as Grabagriha, huge idol of Neminath is disclosed when this cell
is lighted. Also there are total of 39 cells each of which exhibits
one or more images. In the front of the cell, the ceiling is decorated
very perfectly. The relief at the entrances of the cell disclose some
of the important scenes from the life of Neminath.
Another
important attraction of the temple is the elephant cell or Hathishala
which exhibits about 10 beautiful marble elephants. These elephants
are decorated very perfectly and are modeled very practically. Earlier
these elephants carried the idols which depicts the family of Vastu
Pala. There are about ten slabs behind the elephants which bears a
figure of male and female.
Vimala
Vashi temple
It is on of the oldest and most prominent among the other temple among
the other temples. The entrance of the temple contains an image of
Mahavira. He is naked and the energy centres on his body are picked
out and the most important of these is the heart chakra or srivasta.
On the left of the shrine there is a water marble tablet showing
Mahavira which is surrounded by other Trithankaras. The whole temple
is ornamented with white marble. The main hall of the temple contains
an image of Adinath placed in the Gudh Mandap., the main part of the
temple is one of the early examples of Jain style. The temple is set
within a rectangular court lined with a row of small shrines and a
double colonnade. The main glory of the architecture is its ornate and
exuberant decoration. The3 layout of the temple is similar to that of
Gujarati Hindu Temple.
Parshavanath
Temple
Parshavanath Temple was founded in 1458-59 AD. It is a three storeyed
temple which is one of the tallest temple at Dilwara. This temple is
also called Khartar Vashi temple. It is devoted to Lord Parshavnath.
All the four faces of the chamber on the ground floor of the temple
have 4 big mandaps. Outer walls of the temple are decorated with
amazing statues of Yakshinis, Shalabhanjikas, Dikpals, Vidhyadevis etc
and other beautiful carvings which are fully ornamented. |
