8 Most Famous Jain Temples In Rajasthan

Jain dharma is one of the world's oldest continuously-practiced religions, and has two major ancient sub-traditions, Digambaras and Svetambaras, with different views on ascetic practices, gender and which texts can be considered canonical; both have mendicants supported by laypersons. Jain temples and tirtha (pilgrimage sites) are present throughout the Indian subcontinent, many of which were built several hundred years ago. Many of these temples are classified according to Jain sects. Idols of tirthankaras are present in these temples. Many Jain temples are found in other areas of the world. This article lists and documents prominent Jain temples and Tirthas in Rajasthan.

# Ranakpur Jain Temple, Ranakpur

Ranakpur is a village located in Desuri tehsil near Sadri town in the Pali district of Rajasthan in western India. It is located between Jodhpur and Udaipur. 162 km from Jodhpur and 91 km from Udaipur, in a valley on the western side of the Aravalli Range. The Nearest Railway Station to reach Ranakpur is Falna and Rani railway station. Ranakpur is one of the most famous places to visit in Pali, Rajasthan. Ranakpur is easily accessed by road from Udaipur. The 15th century Ranakpur Temple is a major pilgrimage site for the Jain community and is often regarded as an architectural icon worldwide. The temple is built by a reputed businessman of that time, Dharna Shah with the help of the Mewar ruler. The complex comprises of a number of temples namely the Chatutmukha Temple, Parsavanth Temple, Surya Temple and the Amba Temple. The most significant amongst all of them is the four-faced Chaturmukha Temple dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara. The town of Ranakpur and the temple are named after the provincial ruler monarch, Rana Kumbha who supported the construction of the temple.

Ranakpur Jain Temple never fails to dazzle visitors with its grandeur. The entire structure is constructed with light coloured marble with turrets and cupolas majestically rising out of the jagged hilly terrain. Thousands of beautifully carved pillars support this heritage landmark and each one of them is designed uniquely. In every nook and cranny, finely engraved Jain scriptures can be found. The historic Ranakpur Temple was among the best 77 wonders while deciding the ‘7 Wonders of the World‘. Indeed, the temple is truly a jewel that lights up the royal state of Rajasthan. Best time to visit this temple is October To February.

# Dilwara Temples, Mount Abu

The Dilwara Temples or Delvada Temples are a group of svetambara Jain temples located about ​2 1⁄2 kilometres from the Mount Abu settlement, Rajasthan's only hill station. The earliest were built by Vimal Shah and supposedly designed or at least financed by Vastupala, Jain minister of Dholka. They date between the 11th and 16th centuries, forming some of the most famous monuments in the style of Maru-Gurjara architecture, famous for their use of a very pure white marble and intricate marble carvings. They are a pilgrimage place for Jains, and a significant general tourist attraction. Although Jains built many temples at other places in Rajasthan, the Dilwara temples are believed to be the most impressive.

The beautiful temple majestically rises out of the pancake-flat land and sparkles in the sunlight. Devotees coming here do not only experience a strong connection with divinity but also enjoys the tranquillity of the surrounding. The large complex is divided into five different sections dedicated to the Tirthankaras. The temple of Lord Adinath is the oldest amongst all. The entire complex showcases fine workmanship and intricate designs. The splendid carvings of lotus buds, flowers and petals adorned on the marble pillars and ceiling looks distinctive and adds to the beauty. Dilwara Temple also provides bathing facilities to the pilgrims which are mandatory before the puja. Best Time to visit this temple is November To February.

The five Dilwara Temples are among the most famous Jain temples. The Vimal Vasahi is much the earliest, constructed by 1031, with the Luna Vasahi by 1230, and the others at intervals between 1459 and 1582. All are in a very white marble that adds greatly to their effect, and remain in use. The oldest and largest two have large amounts of intricate carving even by the standards of the style, reaching a peak in the Luna Vasahi temple. 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 considered to be remarkable.

The temple complex is in the midst of a range of forested hills. There are five temples in all, each with its own unique identity. All the five temples are enclosed within a single high walled compound. The group is named after the small village of Dilwara or Delvara in which they are located. The five temples are:

- Vimal Vasahi, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara, Shri Adinatha
- Luna Vasahi, dedicated to the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, Shri Neminatha.
- Pittalhar, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar, Shri Adinatha.
- Parshvanath, dedicated to the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, Shri Parshvanatha.
- Mahavir Swami, dedicated to the last Jain Tirthankara, Shri Mahaviraswami.

# Mirpur Jain Temple, Mirpur

Mirpur Jain Temple was built in the 9th century AD, during the reign of the Rajputs. The Mirpur temple is generally thought to be the oldest marble monument in Sirohi, Rajasthan. It is devoted to the 23rd Jain tirthankara, Parsva. The temple was destroyed by Mahmud Begada in the 13th century, and was rebuilt and renovated in the 15th century. These days only the main temple with its mandapa is standing, high on its pedestal with carved pillars and engraved parikrama representing every aspect of Indian mythology.

Mirpur Jain Temple was built in the 9th century AD. Mirpur Jain temple is architecturally most important building near Sirohi. This temple is also mentioned in the ‘World And Encyclopedia of Art’. The temple is famous for its art and exquisite carvings. The fine carvings of the temple is comparable to the ones in Dilwara temples. The domes, pillars and borders are the features unique to this temple. The murals on the ceiling of temple show unique motifs which are not visible in other Jain temples. The kalamandap is standing on its high pedestrian with carved pillars and engraved parikrama representing every walk of life in Indian Mythology. The indescribable artistry of this temple is famous throughout the world and is considered by many to be unmatched. The ancient art of this temple served as a model for the later Dilwara and Ranakpur temples.

This temple belongs to Shvetambara sect of Jainism. The Moolnayak of the temple is a 90 cm tall white colored idol of Lord Parshvanatha called Bhidbhanjan Parshwanathji. This sculpture illustrates Parshwanath's triumph over Kamatha's upsargas, in considerable detail. In this sculpture, Dharanendra raises a hood of 5 cobras to provide shelter for Lord Parshwanath from the relentless storm set into motion by Kamatha. The temple walls and pillars are rich with carvings of floral and geometric designs.

# Shri Mahaveer Ji temple, Karauli

Shri Mahavir Ji is an important Jain pilgrimage site situated in Shri Mahaveerji town in Hindaun Block, Karauli district in Rajasthan. Given the importance of the religious place, the Indian Railways has specifically developed a railway station under West Central Railway zone by the name of Shri Mahabirji railway station which is 10 minutes drive from the temple and temple authorities have arranged for regular buses from station to the temple Atishaya Kshetra Shri Mahavirji Shree Chandanpur Mahavirjee is one of the miraculous pilgrimages of Jains. This pilgrimage is situated at Sub District in the Karauli district of Rajasthan. Built at the bank of a river, this pilgrimage is a prominent centre of devotion for Jain devotees. Chandanpur Mahavirji temple is hailed as the heart of pilgrimages. This is a sacred place of the tradition of Jainism. Mahavirji was also had a Bhattaraka seat which became defunt in 1970.

Temple of Shri Mahaverji is vast & magnificent ornamented with so many pinnacles. This temple is surrounded by Dharmashalas (Guesthouses). The premises of Dharmashalas surrounding the temple is called Katla. In the center of Katla, main temple is situated. The entrance gate of Katla is very attractive and magnificent.

The temple is decorated with three sky high pinnacles. As one enters the main gate, there comes a rectangular ground and then there are seven gates to enter the Mahamandapa. After entering the temple we found a big shrine before us. An icon of Bhagavan Mahavira resembling to the miraculous principal deity and two other icons are installed here.

In Garbh Griha (Central Room of Temple), on the main shrine, the miraculous icon of Bhagavan Mahavira in Padmāsana posture, coral colored made of sandstone is installed with Bhagavan Pushpadanta in right side and Bhagavān Ādinātha’s icon in left side. There are so many agreeable ancient icons of other Tirthankaras, installed in this temple.

Exterior & interior walls of the temple are richly decorated with carvings and golden paintings of scenes from Mahavira's and Parshvanatha's life.

# Sanghiji Jain Temple, Sanganer Jaipur

Shri Digamber Jain Atishya Kshetra Mandir, Sanghiji is an ancient Jain temple in Sanganer, Rajasthan made of red stone. The ancient Shri Digamber Jain temple of Sanganer is 16 km from Jaipur. The idol of principal deity of this temple, Lord Rishabhanatha (Adinatha), the first Tirthankara, is supposed to be 4000 years old. In the midst of underground portion, there is located an ancient small temple guarded by the Yaksha. The sacred temple has seven underground floors which are kept closed due to old religious beliefs and visitors are not allowed to see them. It is said that only a Balyati ascetic Digambara saint can enter in it and is able to bring out the idols of this underground temple for a limited period, which is declared and decided previously. Temple also has a dharamshala equipped with all modern facilities including Bhojanalaya.

The last phase of this temple was completed in the 10th century A.D., according to the inscription of V.S. 1011 in one of the Toranas. It has sky-high shikharas and the inner sanctum is a stone shrine with sky-high eight shikharas (pinnacles). Sanghiji temple considered a great speciman for Hindu and Jain architecture. The larger shrine is built using marble and sandstone in the 10th century and the smaller shrine is rich with ornate carvings of the temple using the white marble is comparable to that of Dilwara Temples in Mount Abu. In 1999, Muni Sudhasagar visited the temple and brought thirty-nine valuable Jain idols. He claimed that he brought the idols from the forth underground floor and encountered many Yaksha (in the form of snakes) protecting the treasure.

# Tijara Jain temple, Tijara

Tijara Jain Temple is a Jain temple dedicated to Chandraprabha. The temple is located in the hill town Tijara, in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, India. It is an Atishaya Kshetra. It is 55 kilometres (34 mi) from Alwar and 110 kilometres (68 mi) from Delhi. The location is a tirtha (pilgrimage site) for the Jains and a tourist attraction. The main deity of the temple is Chandraprabhu, the eighth tirthankara of present cosmic age. The idol of Chandraprabhu is 15 inch in height made of white stone. According to the inscription on the idol, it was installed on the third day of Vishakha Shukla 1554. There is another idol which is made up of black stone, 8 inch in height, in the lotus position. Both the idols, with others, are installed in a rectangular temple decorated with pinnacles. The temple hall has a total of capacity of 2,000 persons. There is a 250 years old, Parshavanatha temple situated near the main temple. Navagraha Jain Temple and Padmavati temple are also near temple complex.

The temple was established in 1956 following the recovery of an idol of Chandraprabha on 16 August 1956. The white stone idol was retrieved from underground, reinforcing the belief that this place was once a Dehra, a place where Jain idols are worshipped. After the setting up of the Jain temple, the place has regained its former importance as a pilgrimage centre.

# Padampura Jain Temple

Padampura is the site of Padampura Digambara Jain Atishay kshetra in Shivdaspura town in Jaipur district of Rajasthan, India. It is located at a distance of 35 km from Jaipur on Jaipur-Kota road. It was on baishak shukla panchami samvat 2001 (1944) one simple boy named Moola Jat was digging foundation for constructing his house when he struck with a stone statue. Experts later identified it as that of the Tirthankara Padmaprabha. This area has been developed as Padampura Digambar Jain Atishay kshetra.

Bara Padampura, District Jaipur is a unique place of miracles (Atishaya Kshetra) famous in north India for its very beautiful idol of Bhagawan Padmaprabha (The 6th Teerthankar) in cross legged seating posture 2 feet & 4 inch in height made of white stone. This was appeared while digging for foundation of a house by Moola Jat. The day when this idol appeared was Vaishakh Shukla 5 1944 (V.S. 2001). A temple was constructed here that was completed in 1945.

Before appearing of this idol the entire village was suffering with the problems water & diseases. After the appearance of this idol, full of miracles, the problem of water vanished, death of animals, due to various diseases was stopped and after many years, villagers got a rich crop. So many desires of pilgrims are fulfilled here. It is said that poltergeistic problems or disturbances are solved here simply by visiting (Darshan) of Padamprabhu.

Mahorilal Godha, a businessman, gave as a charity a wide field to construct a unique circular temple made of marble, whose beautiful spire is 85 feet high. Foundation Stone of this temple was laid by Sir Seth Shri Bhagchandji Soni of Ajmer (RAJ.) This beautiful idol of Bhagwan Padamprabhu is installed on a high shrine in the middle of this circular temple and there are 10 more shrines in which idol of Lord Bahubali, Lord Mahaveer, Lord Padmaprabhu, Lord Rishabhdev and Lord Naminath etc. are installed. In the open field in front of the main temple a 27 feet high colossus of Bhagwan Padamprabhu is standing, it is very attractive. At the place where the Lord Padamprabhu appeared, images of feet are installed.

# Bhandasar Jain Temple, Bikaner

Bhandasar Jain Temple is a three-storey temple, famous for its beautiful leaf paintings, frescoes and ornamented mirror work. This temple was constructed using red sandstone with beautiful paintings and yellow-stone carvings on walls, pillars of the sanctum and mandapa. On the walls there are illustrations depicting the lives of the 24 tirthankaras.The temple consist of garbhagriha, antarala, mahamandapa, and ardhamandapa. The sanctum is pancharatha (five rathas) is covered by shikhara having karna-amalakas and amalakas at top. This temple is located in Bikaner, Rajasthan. This temple is famous for wall painting and art work. This temple is protected by Archaeological Survey of India. This temple was constructed by Bhandasa Oswal in the 12th century. The temple is dedicated to Sumatinatha, the 5th tirthankara. According to legends, 40,000 Kgs of ghee was used in the construction of this temple instead of water in a mortar.